cue

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈkyü 

: the letter q

cue

2 of 5

noun (2)

1

a

: a signal (such as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business) to a performer to begin a specific speech or action

That last line is your cue to exit the stage.

b

: something serving a comparable purpose : hint

I'll take that yawn as my cue to leave.

2

: a feature indicating the nature of something perceived

The expressions on people's faces give us visual cues about their feelings.

3

archaic : the part one has to perform in or as if in a play

4

archaic : mood, humor

cue

3 of 5

verb (1)

cued; cuing or cueing

transitive verb

1

: to give a cue to : prompt

cued the band to begin

2

: to insert into a continuous performance

cue in sound effects

cue

4 of 5

noun (3)

1

a

: a leather-tipped tapering rod for striking the cue ball (as in billiards and pool)

b

: a long-handled instrument with a concave head for shoving disks in shuffleboard

2

: queue sense 2

cue

5 of 5

verb (2)

cued; cuing or cueing

transitive verb

1

: queue

2

: to strike with a cue

intransitive verb

1

: queue

2

: to use a cue

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• clue
• hint
• indication
• inkling
• intimation
• lead
• suggestion

Noun (3)

• column
• file
• line
• queue
• range
• string
• train

Examples of cue in a Sentence

Noun (2)

taking a cue from nature, scientists are developing safe and effective insecticides using insect hormones

Noun (3)

the cue to get tickets to the concert moved with agonizing slowness

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the video, Keoghan and Carpenter take cues from classic crime couples like Bonnie and Clyde and Natural Born Killers. —Jade Gomez, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Inspired by pieces from both their archives, this capsule incorporates heritage fabrics too, cue, ventile, a waterproof fabric that was invented in the 1930s, and is used in the re-worked 1981 army sports jacket from Cabourn’s archive. —Felicity Carter, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Verb

This cues plants to reduce photosynthesis for the season, decreasing chlorophyll, or the green pigment in leaves. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024

Between the lines: Visitors can cue up at museums, but security and ticketing make a quick pee tough (and don't even think of ducking behind a marble column, that risks a $500 fine). —Anna Spiegel, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cu half a farthing (spelled form of q, abbreviation for Latin quadrans quarter of an as)

Noun (2) and Verb (1)

probably from qu, abbreviation (used as a direction in actors' copies of plays) of Latin quando when

Noun (3) and Verb (2)

French queue, literally, tail, from Old French cue, coe, queue, from Latin cauda

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1755, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

circa 1784, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cue

• As if on cue
• cue ball
• cue card
• on cue
• right on cue
• take a/one's cue from

Kids Definition

cue

1 of 3 noun

ˈkyü 

1

: a word, phrase, or action in a play serving as a signal for the next actor to speak or do something

2

: something serving as a signal or suggestion : hint

cue

2 of 3 verb

cued; cuing

: to give a cue to

cue

3 of 3 noun

1

: a tapering rod used in playing billiards or pool

2

: queue entry 1 sense 2

Etymology

Noun

probably from q or qu, abbreviations for Latin quando "when," formerly used in actors' copies of scripts of plays

Noun

from French queue "tail, a line of people," from early French cue, coe "tail," from Latin cauda "tail" — related to coward, queue, coda see Word History at coward, queue

Medical Definition

cue

noun

ˈkyü 

: a minor stimulus acting as an indication of the nature of the perceived object or situation

foreshortened lines in the picture are cues to depth perception