clue

American  

[kloo] / klu /

noun

1. anything that serves to guide or direct in the solution of a problem, mystery, etc..

   It is up to Aurora to piece together the clues and solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

   Synonyms:

   key, mark, evidence, trace, hint, sign

2. a phrase or word provided as a hint to help find an answer or response in a crossword puzzle, on a game show, etc..

   The celebrity editor's name was featured as a clue on the long-running quiz show.

3. an insight into or knowledge about something.

   As a kid from the suburbs, Patrick has lived a sheltered life and doesn't have a clue how to survive on his own.

4. clew.

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verb (used with object)

clues, present (3rd person singular) clued, past participle, past cluing present participle

1. to direct or point out by a clue.

2. to help find (an answer in a puzzle or quiz) by providing a clue.

   The four-letter “nose” was clued as “characteristic smell of wine.”

3. clew.

verb phrase

1. clue in

   1. to provide with useful or reliable information.

      Clue us in on how these forms are to be filled out.

   2. to make familiar or aware.

      Has she been clued in about the rules of this office?

clue British  

/ kluː /

noun

1. something that helps to solve a problem or unravel a mystery

2. 1. to be completely baffled

   2. to be completely ignorant or incompetent

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verb

1. (tr; usually foll by in or up) to provide with helpful information

noun

1. a variant spelling of clew

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has clued
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have clued
  perfect
• is cluing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am cluing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been cluing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• clues
  singular 3rd person
• cluing
  participle
• are cluing
  progressive
• have been cluing
  perfect progressive

Past

• had clued
  perfect
• was cluing
  progressive singular
• had been cluing
  perfect progressive
• were cluing
  progressive plural
• clued
  simple
• clued
  participle

Future

• will clue
  simple
• will have clued
  perfect
• will be cluing
  progressive
• will have been cluing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of clue

First recorded in 1350–1400; variant spelling of clew

Explanation

A clue is a piece of evidence that helps solve a problem, or it's a slight hint. When you’re in the dark about the surprise party your friends are planning, they'll say, “She doesn’t have a clue!” When you first join the police force, you’re mostly just walking the beat. But when you’re promoted to detective, your job is to look for that big clue that will help you solve the case. The original Middle English word was clew, which meant “a ball of thread.” If you were trapped in a labyrinth, you could follow the clew to help find your way out.

Example Sentences

It also owns formats for “Shark Tank,” and “90 Day Fiancé,” and an upcoming adaption of the board game, Clue.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Her expanded list includes some family members whom she gave a hard-to-find version of the Clue board game last year but reacted with “kind of a weird vibe” about getting something used.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Clue: It begins with B and rhymes with frolics.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2023

My system collapsed with the arrival of Wamp, the digital pandemic that forced the consortia to work together to create the Constant Clue vaccine.

From Slate • Oct. 28, 2023

"We? What do you mean, we? You're not on one of your crazy Clue Crew cases, are you?"

From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene

Related Words

• cue
• indication
• inkling
• key
• pointer
• proof
• solution
• suggestion
• tip
• trace