1
as in source
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information
the author's argument is interesting, but the lack of references makes me wonder if it can be proven
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as in to source
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reference
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2026
Sultan passed away in 2009, but has become a photographer whom artists of all sorts admire and reference.
—Vanity Fair, 26 Mar. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Trump did not reference a specific article from the New York Times.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reference
Noun
The album’s title is also a youthful Easter egg, a reference to the road from the singer’s native Liverpool to the Speke shoreline in the region that McCartney grew up in.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2026
Sultan passed away in 2009, but has become a photographer whom artists of all sorts admire and reference.
—Vanity Fair, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
The statement appeared to reference a 2023 video of an altercation between Paul and Dakota Mortensen that was published by TMZ on Thursday.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Trump did not reference a specific article from the New York Times.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reference
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reference
Noun
-
Polls suggest that most people want owners to pay for their own stadiums, but sports teams are desired and beloved, a source not only of entertainment but also of civic pride.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Online personalities a source of division Though widely regarded at the conference as separate from Republicans, the conservative movement is predominantly united, Plano resident Bruce Dunn said.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In this regard, Wienerberger’s Denton brickworks is emerging as a flagship project for the UK ceramics sector.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In some regards, that association is baked into the underlying value of their media rights agreements.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The battle is well documented in the country’s history books but this is believed to be the first time that archaeological investigations in connection with it have been undertaken, according to Uldum.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
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Scholars of Indonesian education such as Christopher Bjork and Robert Hefner have documented how distinct these traditions are from models that treat education primarily as a path to individual advancement and career preparation, which is the lens through which the AI tools viewed education.—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Offer clear feedback to a collaborator in private, so mutual respect strengthens and the path forward becomes simpler for both of you.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
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In that respect, the Kings took one of their best losses of the season Sunday, falling 116-99 to the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in the fourth game of a five-game road trip.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reference.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reference. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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