cue

¹

[ kyoo ]

noun

1. anything said or done, on or off stage, that is followed by a specific line or action:

   An off-stage door slam was his cue to enter.

   Synonyms: signal

2. anything that excites to action; stimulus.
3. a hint; intimation; guiding suggestion.

   Synonyms: inkling, tip, key, hint, sign

4. the part a person is to play; a prescribed or necessary course of action.
5. a sensory signal used to identify experiences, facilitate memory, or organize responses.
6. Archaic. frame of mind; mood.

verb (used with object)

, cued, cu·ing.

1. to provide with a cue or indication; give a cue to; prompt:

   Will you cue me on my lines?

2. to insert, or direct to come in, in a specific place in a musical or dramatic performance (usually followed by in or into ):

   to cue in a lighting effect.

3. to search for and reach (a specific track on a recording) (sometimes followed by up ).

cue

²

[ kyoo ]

noun

1. a long, tapering rod, tipped with a soft leather pad, used to strike the ball in billiards, pool, etc.
2. a long, usually wooden stick with a concave head, used to propel the disks in shuffleboard.
3. a queue or braid of hair worn behind the head.
4. a queue or file, as of persons awaiting their turn.

verb (used with object)

, cued, cu·ing.

1. to tie into a queue.
2. to strike with a cue.

cue

³

[ kyoo ]

noun

1. the letter Q, q.

cue

¹

/ kjuː /

noun

1. 1. (in the theatre, films, music, etc) anything spoken or done that serves as a signal to an actor, musician, etc, to follow with specific lines or action
   2. on cue at the right moment
2. a signal or reminder to do something
3. psychol the part of any sensory pattern that is identified as the signal for a response
4. the part, function, or action assigned to or expected of a person

verb

1. tr to give a cue or cues to (an actor)
2. usually foll byin or into to signal (to something or somebody) at a specific moment in a musical or dramatic performance

   to cue in a flourish of trumpets

3. tr to give information or a reminder to (someone)
4. intr to signal the commencement of filming, as with the word "Action!"

cue

²

/ kjuː /

noun

1. billiards snooker a long tapered shaft with a leather tip, used to drive the balls
2. hair caught at the back forming a tail or braid
3. See queue
   a variant spelling of queue

verb

1. to drive (a ball) with a cue
2. tr to twist or tie (the hair) into a cue

Word History and Origins

Origin of cue¹

First recorded in 1545–55; spelled name of the letter q as an abbreviation (found in acting scripts) of Latin quandō “when”

Origin of cue²

First recorded in 1740–50; from French queue “tail,” Old French cöe, coue, from Latin cōda, popular form of cauda “tail”; coward, queue

Origin of cue³

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English cu; conventional adaptation in spelling of the letter name

Word History and Origins

Origin of cue¹

C16: probably from name of the letter q, used in an actor's script to represent Latin quando when

Origin of cue²

C18: variant of queue

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cue (someone) in, Informal. to inform; give instructions, information, news, etc., to:

   Cue him in on the plans for the dance.

2. miss a cue,
   1. to fail to respond to a cue.
   2. Informal. to miss the point:

      You could tell by his expression that he had missed a cue.

Example Sentences

It prepares them for adulthood, when there are fewer cues to self-advocate.

From Popular-Science

This might make them more likely to notice the differences between new and familiar toys, and to attend to the verbal cue associated with them.

From Popular-Science

Strenger, a client support specialist, later told me the companies’ co-founders took their aesthetic cues from Pokémon.

From Quartz

Cumulatively, the report notes, human-produced noise can mask “environmental cues indicating the presence of prey and predators, resulting in loss of social cohesion, missed opportunities for feeding, or failure to avoid a predator.”

From Time

In the hands of a stronger writer, Malcolm & Marie could have taken its cues from great theater two-handers, duets designed to showcase their actors.

From Vox

Cue heartbroken Galavant engorging himself on booze and mutton back home.

From The Daily Beast

The blast was a stupefying white flash followed by a body-shaking howl, and it was the cue for a maelstrom of metallic shrieks.

From The Daily Beast

She did not weep on cue in public when Monteith died, or seek sympathy.

From The Daily Beast

Affleck, as if on cue, challenged Harris: “Are you the person who understands the officially codified doctrine of Islam?”

From The Daily Beast

Cue a series of shots of these veteran actors dusting off their best revenge faces.

From The Daily Beast

"This organized conspiracy on your part," the capstan gurgled, taking his cue from the mast.

From Project Gutenberg

Eliza, glancing at Miss Prall, took her cue and looked disdainful of the whole affair.

From Project Gutenberg

Next came Coronado, as happy as a disappointed burglar whose cue it is to congratulate the rescuing policeman.

From Project Gutenberg

He has quite a clerical look, and, if he hadn't, his voice would give the cue to his profession.

From Project Gutenberg

Others of the conspirators, however, took Fislar's bold cue and stoutly corroborated him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clue
• hint
• suggestion

More About Cue

What does cue mean?

A cue is any planned action that triggers an actor’s response or line of dialogue in performance art, as in I’m so embarrassed that I missed my cue to walk on stage!

A cue is more generally something that triggers an action, as in The teacher handing out the test was our cue to put our books away.

A cue can also be a hint, I should have seen my mother’s angry face as my cue to apologize.

To cue means to provide a hint or prompt for an action, as in The actors cued each other during rehearsal so they could memorize all the cues.

To cue can also mean to insert or direct to come in, as in Cue the music, and raise the curtain!

Example: Juan came in on cue but flubbed his line, so we had to reshoot the scene.

Where does cue come from?

The first records of the term cue come from around 1545. It is the spelled name of the abbreviation q for the Latin quandō, meaning “when.” The abbreviation was used in acting scripts.

Cue is mostly used as a noun, but there are several phrases that use cue uniquely. For example, if you are on cue, you’re performing at the correct time when prompted by a cue. And if you cue in your little sister about your parents’ feelings about shouting, you’re informing her about something you and your parents already know. If your sister doesn’t understand what you’re trying to tell her, you can say she has missed a cue.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for cue?

• clue
• hint
• notify
• prompt
• suggestions

What are some words that share a root or word element with cue? 

• cue ball
• cue card
• cue in
• queue

What are some words that often get used in discussing cue?

• act
• hint
• stage
• music

What are some words cue may be commonly confused with?

• queue

How is cue used in real life?

Cue is often used in performance art or as an indirect reference to performing.

TMRW IS CHRISTMAS but it doesnt really feel like it AND THATS OK BC IT STILL IS but i need to find some holiday cheer QUICK CUE THE MUSIC

— connor (@connorfranta) December 24, 2015

Shot a video outside today. A nice, quiet, warm day.

As soon as I turned the mic on, cue the trucks, helicopters, jackhammers, and loud noises

Definitely just set a record for longest blooper reel of all time 😭

— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) April 13, 2018

chalking my spraying water
pool cue from the iron
🤝
No idea what it does but
makes me feel powerful

— Rhys James (@rhysjamesy) February 22, 2020

Try using cue!

Is cue used correctly in the following sentence?

I cued up for the tickets earlier today.