Mark

/mɑːrk/

nounBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

4 meanings
1

A visible impression or sign on a surface, or something used to represent or identify something else.

/mɑːrk/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A symbol or sign.

She made a mark on the map to show where she found the treasure.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're grading papers. A 'mark' is the little symbol you make (like a check or an 'X') to show if something is right or wrong, or to show a score. It's also the score itself!

👶 For kids: A mark is like a dot, a line, or a letter that shows something.

More Examples

2

The artist used charcoal to create a dark mark on the canvas.

3

The price mark increased significantly.

How It's Used

General

"The teacher put a red mark on the incorrect answer."

Mathematics

"The student's final mark was 95%."

Business

"The new product significantly raised the market mark."

2

To make a mark or indication on something; to designate or identify.

/mɑːrk/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To make a symbol or sign.

The teacher marked the student's paper with a grade.

💡 Simply: If you 'mark' something, you're putting a sign on it, like when you correct a test and put red marks to show what's wrong. You can also 'mark' a person to keep track of them (like a player in a game). Or you can mark a price to show how much something costs.

👶 For kids: To mark something is to draw a line, or a dot or anything that shows you put something on something.

More Examples

2

He marked his place in the book with a bookmark.

3

The soldiers were instructed to mark the enemy's positions on the map.

4

Please mark the answer sheets.

How It's Used

Education

"The teacher marked the essays for grammar mistakes."

Sports

"The defender was instructed to mark the opposing striker."

Business

"They had to mark the items down for sale."

Tip:Think of marking a test, putting a sign to show something.
3

To pay attention to or take notice of something.

/mɑːrk/

verbneutralmedium
General

To take notice of or pay attention to.

Please mark the time of the meeting on your calendar.

💡 Simply: If you 'mark' something, you're paying attention to it, like 'mark' your calendar for your friend's birthday.

👶 For kids: When you mark something, that means you pay attention to it

More Examples

2

The audience marked her entrance with applause.

3

He carefully marked each detail of the contract.

How It's Used

General

"She marked his birthday on the calendar."

Business

"I will mark your performance in the meeting."

Tip:Think of marking something as important.
4

A former unit of currency in Germany and other countries.

/mɑːrk/

nounneutralAdvanced
General

An amount of money.

The German mark was replaced by the Euro.

💡 Simply: A 'mark' was a type of money that they used in a certain country in the past. Today, it is not used.

👶 For kids: In the past, 'mark' was a kind of money.

More Examples

2

The exchange rate of the mark changed during that time.

How It's Used

Historical

"The mark was a currency used in Germany."

Finance

"The exchange rate of the mark fluctuated."

Tip:Mark of money.

Idioms & expressions

hit the mark

To succeed or achieve a goal.

"The new marketing campaign hit the mark and sales increased significantly."

leave your mark

To have a lasting effect or influence on something.

"The inventor's discoveries left their mark on the world."

wide of the mark

Incorrect; wrong; irrelevant.

"The politician's prediction was wide of the mark."

From Old English *mearc* (noun) and *mearcian* (verb), from Proto-Germanic *markō*. Originally referred to a boundary or sign.

Used to refer to a unit of currency, primarily in Germany.

Memory tip

Think of a checkmark, a visible sign of completion or correctness.

marcmarck

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written