cite
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), especially as an authority.
He cited the Constitution in his defense.
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to mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example.
He cited many instances of abuse of power.
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to summon officially or authoritatively to appear in court.
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to call to mind; recall.
citing my gratitude to him.
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Military. to mention (a soldier, unit, etc.) in orders, as for gallantry.
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to commend, as for outstanding service, hard work, or devotion to duty.
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to summon or call; rouse to action.
noun
verb
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to quote or refer to (a passage, book, or author) in substantiation as an authority, proof, or example
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to mention or commend (a soldier, etc) for outstanding bravery or meritorious action
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to summon to appear before a court of law
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to enumerate
he cited the king's virtues
Other Word Forms
- citable adjective
- citeable adjective
- citer noun
- noncitable adjective
- nonciteable adjective
- uncitable adjective
- unciteable adjective
- uncited adjective
Etymology
Origin of cite1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin citāre “to hurry, set in motion, summon before a court,” frequentative of ciēre “to move, set in motion”
Origin of cite2
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; by shortening
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The outlook came as Chewy ended last year from a position of real strength, Chief Executive Sumit Singh said, in part citing sales growth as the company continues to add new customers.
He cited 2022, when Europe bought twice as much gas as it needed, at a premium, due to uncertainty over supply.
Maybank maintains a neutral stance on the oil-and-gas sector, with Dialog as its top pick, citing upstream exposure and stable midstream income.
Some passengers had questioned the value of their Clear memberships, citing extra ID checks and shorter wait times in the PreCheck lane.
The Federal Reserve’s February “beige book,” an anecdotal survey of nationwide economic conditions, cited immigration enforcement from Boston to Minnesota.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
