marked — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Having a visible or identifying mark.

2. Having a visible or identifying mark. Having a secret mark on the back for cheating.

   Usage

   • of a playing card

3. Clearly evident; noticeable; conspicuous.

   Synonyms

   manifestnoticeableobtrusivepalpablepatentnoted

   Examples

   The eighth century BC saw a marked increase in the general wealth of Cyprus.

   In ancient times, the Romans imported truffles, credited with marked aphrodisiac virtue, from Libya as well as Greece.

   More examples (2)

   The drop in merchandise and mineral receipts again reflects the fall in steel output, most marked in the North-East; […].

   There has been a marked shift in viewing habits since the channels’ heyday, with music videos now more commonly consumed on YouTube and social media rather than television.

4. Distinguished by a positive feature.

   Usage

   • phoneme
   • of a word

   Synonyms

   singled outtargetedpositive

   Antonyms

   unmarked

   Examples

   "Young" is the marked element of the old/young pair, since the usual way of asking someone's age is "How old are you?".

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   It is frequently the case that of two units in contrast (and for simplicity we may restrict ourselves to two-term contrasts) one will be positive, or marked, the other being neutral, or unmarked. […] The plural is positively marked by the final s, whereas the singular is unmarked.

5. Singled out; suspicious; treated with hostility; the object of vengeance.

   Examples

   A marked man.

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   My secret terror for the last six months has been leaving them on the Moon and returning to Earth alone; now I am within minutes of finding out the truth of the matter. If they fail to rise from the surface, or crash back into it, I am not going to commit suicide; I am coming home, forthwith, but I will be a marked man for life and I know it.

6. In police livery, as opposed to unmarked. (of a police vehicle)

Adjective

1. strongly marked; easily noticeable

   Synonyms

   pronounced

   Examples

   walked with a marked limp

   a pronounced flavor of cinnamon

2. singled out for notice or especially for a dire fate

   Examples

   a marked man

3. having or as if having an identifying mark or a mark as specified; often used in combination

   Antonyms

   unmarked

   Examples

   played with marked cards

   a scar-marked face

   More examples (1)

   well-marked roads