cite
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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cites,
present (3rd person singular)
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cited,
past participle, past
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citing
present participle
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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
Derived Forms
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citernoun
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citableadjective
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citeableadjective
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noncitableadjective
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nonciteableadjective
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uncitableadjective
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unciteableadjective
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uncitedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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citesimple
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citessimple
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have citedperfect
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has citedperfect
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am citingprogressive
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are citingprogressive
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is citingprogressive
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have been citingperfect progressive
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has been citingperfect progressive
Past
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citedsimple
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had citedperfect
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was citingprogressive
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were citingprogressive
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had been citingperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
To cite something means to do right by whoever said it and give them credit — for instance, if you add a brilliant statement to a paper but you’re not the one who originally wrote it, you should cite, or point to, the original author. Using cite with the meaning "to reference" or "to note" is just one of several similar uses. A military or other official report can cite someone for an outstanding act of service, and a legal representative can cite individuals, or summon them, to show up in court. To cite a source when writing or verbally repeating something first spoken by someone else is to give a "citation" or "notation" that gives credit where credit is due.
Vocabulary lists containing cite
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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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.
See Examples For:
“But we believe it is this exact cautiousness, particularly the fact that many cite seasonals, as the reason to think a lot of bad news is priced in,” he says.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
Along the French Riviera, they cite roughly 20 reported events between the 16th century and the early 2000s, including waves exceeding two meters.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
The Zume patents could help Miso Robotics expand Flippy's capabilities, suggests Hull, though he does not cite any specific example.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
They also cite the potential for what is known as “chain refoulement,” when asylum seekers and refugees are sent by the third country back to the home from which they originally fled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Most of the books didn’t even cite Freud in their bibliographies.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Rosales cites Jamaican American writer and former Pomona College professor Claudia Rankine as a strong influence on her storytelling style.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Moreover, Muir cites research from strategists at Citadel Securities and Barclays showing that, on a seasonal basis, September and October are typically the worst months for risk-adjusted returns in the S&P 500.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
He cites frustrations with the UK over the Iran war, saying "your country was not there to help me".
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
The complaint cites three separate advertising products at issue: Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
To get a better sense of the decimation, McAuliffe looked at the Authentic Osage Indian Roll Book, which cites the deaths of many of the original allotted members of the tribe.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Two A-level exam boards have since announced reviews of how they teach the inductive effect and directly cited the research as part of the reason for doing so.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
Regulators cited Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, for failing to provide care during the eight hours Lowrimore waited to be seen.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
"We do not rule out such a possibility; we are talking about the foreseeable future," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, cited by Russia's Ria and Tass news agencies.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
The department recently cited California as a problem state that allows drivers who don’t speak sufficient English to obtain licenses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Chang cited a 1933 speech by a Japanese general: “Every single bullet must be charged with the Imperial Way, and the end of every bayonet must have National Virtue burnt into it.”
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
The U.S. bank raises its estimates for Sumitomo Pharma’s revenue and core operating profit in the coming years, citing sales growth of these medicines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
The report, from the Financial Times citing multiple people with knowledge of the matter, said Anthropic told investors that it will profit on a measure called adjusted operating income.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
The man is in a "serious but stable condition", national broadcaster ABC said, citing local health authorities.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Afterward, Connolly said she told Trump that “the normalization of war and genocide can never be accepted,” citing Ireland’s own history of famine, colonization and the Troubles.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Tison testified that he feared for his life, citing 27 years of law enforcement experience in support of his ability to detect a genuine threat.
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
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.
