How to Use ensign in a Sentence

ensign

noun
  • And all this happens there, in the solitude of reading, while the ensign takes a nap.
    — Phil Klay, Harper's Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021
  • As the British ensign was lowered to the tune of a navy band, Her Majesty was photographed blinking back tears.
    — Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 8 Nov. 2022
  • With the naval ensign of Italy flag waving rapidly at the boat's bow, the couple take in the splendid views of the Mediterranean coast.
    — Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2023
  • Just what all those new ensigns and their proud parents wanted to hear.
    — Dan Rodricks, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2017
  • The photo was a black-and-white portrait of England in his Navy ensign’s uniform.
    — National Geographic, 8 Nov. 2016
  • Among them were the blue ensign of Australia and the two banners of its Indigenous peoples.
    — Michael E. Miller, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023
  • Half-hearted stints, in the next few years, as a legal apprentice and an army ensign proved just as abortive.
    — Clare Bucknell, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022
  • Half-hearted stints, in the next few years, as a legal apprentice and an army ensign proved just as abortive.
    — Clare Bucknell, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022
  • Half-hearted stints, in the next few years, as a legal apprentice and an army ensign proved just as abortive.
    — Clare Bucknell, Harper’s Magazine , 26 Oct. 2022
  • Half-hearted stints, in the next few years, as a legal apprentice and an army ensign proved just as abortive.
    — Clare Bucknell, Harper’s Magazine , 12 Oct. 2022
  • Courtesy of Michael Rosenberg Back then, for 18 long months at sea, the ensign didn't see a single woman.
    — Howard Cohen, miamiherald, 13 Apr. 2018
  • The windbreaker, which always features the eagle ensign, used to be bluish-gray.
    — Katy Waldman, Slate Magazine, 5 Oct. 2017
  • Cervantes could have made the ensign read the manuscript aloud to the licentiate.
    — Phil Klay, Harper's Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021
  • For their heroic efforts, two — an ensign and a seaman — were awarded medals of honor.
    — Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Thankfully, the rest of the team shows up to arrest Wills, having gotten confessions from his men about the ensign's murder.
    — Sara Netzley, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Four sailors who put the tracking devices aboard the boats were also named in the indictment, as was a sergeant and an ensign, or low-ranking officer.
    — Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Her first tour as an ensign took her to Seattle for an assignment aboard an icebreaker, the Polar Star.
    — New York Times, 31 May 2022
  • The next night, those same ensigns ordered an apprentice to take the watchful pedometer and shake it while the night watchmen took their normal rest.
    — Jacqueline D. Wernimont, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Joshua Watson, an ensign, was one of the three people killed in Friday’s shooting, the Navy confirmed late Saturday.
    — Author: Katie Mettler, Marisa Iati, Derek Hawkins, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Dec. 2019
  • Then the team's called to investigate the murder of an ensign who was gunned down at the wheel of a truck transporting $3 million of black-market opioids that the Navy seized at sea.
    — Sara Netzley, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2023
  • However, his chances of making the roster took a major hit last month when the Navy upheld his commission as an ensign.
    — Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 6 July 2021
  • The graduates receive commissions as Navy ensigns or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps and serve at least five years.
    — Jeff Barker, baltimoresun.com, 25 May 2018
  • In June 1954, Rumsfeld graduated and was commissioned an ensign in the Navy.
    — Robert Burns, ajc, 1 July 2021
  • In June 1954, Rumsfeld graduated and was commissioned an ensign in the Navy.
    — Robert Burns, ajc, 1 July 2021
  • In June 1954, Rumsfeld graduated and was commissioned an ensign in the Navy.
    — Robert Burns, ajc, 1 July 2021
  • In June 1954, Rumsfeld graduated and was commissioned an ensign in the Navy.
    — Robert Burns, ajc, 1 July 2021
  • In June 1954, Rumsfeld graduated and was commissioned an ensign in the Navy.
    — Robert Burns, ajc, 1 July 2021
  • In June 1954, Rumsfeld graduated and was commissioned an ensign in the Navy.
    — Robert Burns, ajc, 1 July 2021
  • In June 1954, Rumsfeld graduated and was commissioned an ensign in the Navy.
    — Robert Burns, Star Tribune, 30 June 2021
  • Seasons 4 and 5 saw the four main characters all get promoted to junior lieutenants, after slumming it as ensigns for the majority of the series.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ensign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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