marker
gb/mˈɑɹkɚ/ us/mˈɑɹkɚ/
A2
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Felt-tip pen for writing/drawing
A thick pen with strong ink that you use to write, draw, or color.
Usage pattern:
use [a marker] to [write/draw/color] on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "marker" with "mark". "Marker" is the pen used to write or color; "mark" is the line, spot, or score that is made.
Synonyms
felt-tip pen (More technical; clearly refers to the soft tip of the pen.)
|
marker pen (Common especially in British English; explicitly labels it as a pen.)
Collocations
permanent marker
|dry-erase marker
|colored markers
|black marker
|marker pen
|use a marker
Themes
school
|writing
|art
|education
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She used a black marker to label all the boxes.
- Please bring colored markers for the poster project.
- The writing stayed on the glass because he used a permanent marker.
- The teacher wrote the answers on the board with a blue marker.
- This marker is running out of ink; I can barely see the line.
Learner examples
- I drew a big red heart with a marker.
- The teacher writes on the board with a marker.
- Please do not use a permanent marker on the table.
- He has a box full of different color markers.
- My black marker is dry, so I need a new one.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Sign that indicates something
A thing or fact that shows that something is true, happening, or changing.
Usage pattern:
a marker of/for [quality/condition/change]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "sign for" instead of "marker of" (e.g., "It is a sign for success"). With "marker", use "marker of" or "marker for" (e.g., "a marker of success", "a marker for disease").
Synonyms
indicator (More formal and common in technical or academic writing.)
|
sign (More general and everyday; less technical than "marker" or "indicator".)
Collocations
a marker of success
|a marker of quality
|a marker of progress
|a marker for disease
|an early marker
|a reliable marker
Themes
science
|medicine
|evaluation
|statistics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- High employee turnover can be a marker of deeper problems in a company.
- In many cultures, home ownership is seen as a marker of success.
- Rising sea temperatures are an important marker of climate change.
- Low test scores may be a marker of unequal access to education.
- Doctors often look for specific proteins in the blood as a marker of infection.
Learner examples
- Good test results can be a marker of progress in school.
- For many people, a new car is a marker of success.
- High prices are a marker of strong demand.
- A big smile is often a marker of happiness.
- Poor health can be a marker of a stressful life.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Physical sign showing a place
A sign or object that shows where a place, line, or limit is.
Usage pattern:
a marker for [a place/boundary] on [a surface/area]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call a grave marker a "grave stone" or "grave sign". The common term is "gravestone" or "grave marker", not "grave sign".
Synonyms
signpost (Usually refers to a vertical sign with information, especially on roads.)
|
monument (Suggests a larger and more formal or decorative marker, often for people or events.)
Antonyms
unmarked (Describes a place or boundary without any marker or sign.)
Collocations
mile marker
|grave marker
|boundary marker
|trail marker
|road marker
|historical marker
Themes
geography
|travel
|death
|space
Examples
- We pulled over at the mile 50 marker to take a break.
- A small stone marker shows where the two properties meet.
- The grave marker lists his name, birth date, and the date he died.
- Bright orange trail markers helped hikers stay on the path.
- There is a historical marker outside the building explaining what happened there.
Learner examples
- We stopped the car at the mile marker on the highway.
- A white stone marker shows the border between the two countries.
- The family put a new marker on the grave.
- Red markers on the trees show the walking path.
- There is a metal marker in the park with the year it was built.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
Genetic or biological indicator
A piece of DNA or a substance in the body that helps scientists or doctors find or follow a disease, trait, or person.
Usage pattern:
a genetic/biological marker for [disease/trait]
Common mistake:
Learners may think a genetic marker is the same as a visible symptom. A marker is usually something measured in a lab (like DNA or a protein), not something you can easily see from the outside.
Synonyms
biomarker (Standard technical term, especially in medical and pharmaceutical contexts.)
|
genetic marker (Common collocation; more specific to DNA or genes.)
Collocations
genetic marker
|biological marker
|tumor marker
|cancer marker
|blood marker
|reliable marker
Themes
science
|medicine
|biology
|health
Examples
- Researchers have identified a genetic marker that is strongly linked to the disease.
- This protein is used as a tumor marker to monitor how well the treatment is working.
- The presence of certain markers in the blood can indicate an increased risk of heart problems.
- Doctors tested for specific biological markers before starting the new drug.
- These DNA markers help scientists track how the population has moved over time.
Learner examples
- The doctor looked for special markers in her blood.
- A genetic marker can show if a person may get a disease in the future.
- Scientists use DNA markers to study family history.
- This test finds markers that can warn of cancer early.
- Some markers in the body change when you are sick.
Noun
B2
entity
5
Person who grades work
A person who checks exams or papers and gives marks or grades.
Usage pattern:
a marker of [exams/tests/essays]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "marker" (the person) with "mark" (the score). A marker gives you a mark; they are not the same word.
Synonyms
examiner (More formal; often implies a person who sets or oversees exams as well as marking them.)
|
grader (Common in American English; focuses on giving grades rather than just marking.)
Collocations
exam marker
|paper marker
|official marker
|external marker
|the markers' guidelines
Themes
education
|work
Examples
- The exam markers met to agree on the marking scheme before they started.
- All essays will be read by two independent markers.
- The markers complained that the papers were very long this year.
- She works as a part-time marker for the national exams.
- Clear handwriting makes the marker's job much easier.
Learner examples
- The exam marker checked my answers very carefully.
- Different markers read the same test to be fair.
- The markers use a guide to give scores.
- The teacher is the only marker for this small class.
- The exam markers finished their work after two weeks.
Noun
B1
entity
6
Small game piece or token
A small piece that shows where you are or what you have in a game or activity.
Usage pattern:
place/move [a] marker on [a space/spot]
Common mistake:
Learners may think of a marker only as a pen and forget it can also mean a small game piece. Context with games or boards usually means a game piece, not a pen.
Synonyms
token (Very common in board games; often the standard word for the playing piece.)
|
counter (Common in British English for small flat pieces used in games.)
Collocations
move your marker
|place a marker
|player marker
|game marker
|score marker
Themes
games
|leisure
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Each player chooses a different colored marker before the game starts.
- If you answer correctly, move your marker forward two spaces.
- Use these coins as markers to keep track of your points.
- She knocked the board and all the markers fell onto the floor.
- Put a marker on the map where you want to build your next base.
Learner examples
- I moved my marker three spaces on the board.
- Each child gets one marker in the game.
- Use this small stone as a marker on the map.
- His marker shows that he is winning.
- We use bottle caps as markers in our game.
Noun
C1
entity
7
Player who marks an opponent
In sports, the player who stays close to one opponent to stop them from playing easily.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is [someone's] marker
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "marker" in sports means the line judge or referee. In this sense, a marker is a player who guards another player, not an official.
Synonyms
defender (Broader; any player in a defensive position, not always marking one specific person.)
|
marker (man-marker) ("Man-marker" is a more specific term in sports like soccer; emphasizes close marking.)
Collocations
tight marker
|poor marker
|primary marker
|assigned marker
|lose your marker
Themes
sports
Examples
- He shook off his marker and scored the winning goal.
- The coach assigned their best defender as the main marker for the star striker.
- The forward easily outran his marker down the wing.
- Her marker gave her too much space, and she took the shot.
- If you lose your marker, the whole defense can fall apart.
Learner examples
- The striker ran past his marker and scored.
- She is the main marker for the other team’s best player.
- His marker did not stay close, so he got the ball.
- The coach told each player who their marker was.
- He is a strong marker and never lets his player go free.
Grammar
Dictionary form
marker
IPA
GB/mˈɑɹkɚ/
US/mˈɑɹkɚ/
Syllables & stress
mark - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mark)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: marker
- Plural: markers
Word family
Forms
markers
noun
Core family
mark
noun A2
marking
noun
Related words
marked
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unmarked
adjective
Expressions
boundary marker
1/bˈaʊndɚi mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
Object showing a land border
A sign or object that shows where one piece of land ends and another begins.
Examples
- They placed concrete boundary markers along the edge of the property.
- The old boundary marker was hidden under thick bushes.
- A boundary marker in the river shows the line between the two countries.
dry-erase marker
1/dɹˈaɪ ɪɹˈeɪs mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
Marker for whiteboards that wipes off
A marker pen that you can use on a whiteboard and then clean off easily without water.
Examples
- Only use a dry-erase marker on the whiteboard.
- Someone used a permanent pen instead of a dry-erase marker and it ruined the board.
- She grabbed a dry-erase marker and drew a quick diagram.
genetic marker
1/d͡ʒənˈɛtɪk mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
DNA feature used for identification
A piece of DNA that helps scientists or doctors find or follow a trait, person, or disease.
Examples
- Scientists found a genetic marker that increases the risk of the condition.
- This genetic marker is common in people whose families come from that region.
- The test looks for several genetic markers linked to the illness.
grave marker
1/ɡɹˈeɪv mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
Object showing whose grave it is
A stone or sign on a grave that shows the name and information of the dead person.
Examples
- The family chose a simple grave marker with his name and dates.
- Many of the old grave markers in the cemetery are hard to read.
- They cleaned the grave marker before placing fresh flowers.
mile marker
1/mˈaɪl mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
Road sign showing mile distance
A sign on the side of a road that shows how many miles you are from a certain place.
Examples
- We stopped to rest at the mile 100 marker on the highway.
- The accident happened just after the mile marker near the bridge.
- They checked the mile markers to see how far they still had to drive.
page marker
1/pˈeɪd͡ʒ mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
Object used to mark a page
A small object, like a strip of paper, used to show the place where you stop reading in a book.
Examples
- She slid a page marker between the pages before closing the book.
- Use a page marker instead of folding the corner of the page.
- The book comes with a ribbon page marker attached to the spine.
trail marker
1/tɹˈeɪl mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
Sign that marks a hiking route
A sign or painted mark that shows where a walking path or hiking trail goes.
Examples
- Follow the blue trail markers until you reach the lake.
- Some of the trail markers had fallen down after the storm.
- Without clear trail markers, it is easy to get lost in the forest.
tumor marker
1/tˈumɚ mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Body substance that suggests a tumor
A substance in the blood or body that can show if a person may have a tumor or cancer.
Examples
- Her tumor marker levels dropped after several rounds of chemotherapy.
- Doctors use tumor markers to help monitor how well the treatment is working.
- An increase in a specific tumor marker can be an early warning sign of cancer returning.
whiteboard marker
1/wˈaɪtbˌɔɹd mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
Marker used on whiteboards
A marker pen made for writing on a whiteboard.
Examples
- The teacher ran out of ink in her whiteboard marker.
- Please buy some new whiteboard markers for the meeting room.
- He mixed up a whiteboard marker with a normal pen and wrote on paper.
permanent marker
1/pˈɚmənənt mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
pen with non-removable ink
A pen with ink that stays on and cannot be erased easily.
Examples
- She labeled the boxes with a permanent marker.
- Write your name on the box with a permanent marker.
- Be careful—this is written in permanent marker.
- Be careful, that’s a permanent marker and it will stain your clothes.
- She used a permanent marker to label all the storage containers.