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unquote

American  
[uhn-kwoht, uhn-kwoht] / ʌnˈkwoʊt, ˈʌnˌkwoʊt /

verb (used without object)

unquoted, unquoting
  1. to close a quotation (often used with the word quote, which notes the opening of the quotation).

    The senator said, quote, I am unalterably opposed to this policy, unquote.


unquote British  
/ ʌnˈkwəʊt /

interjection

  1. an expression used parenthetically to indicate that the preceding quotation is finished

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to close (a quotation), esp in printing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unquote

First recorded in 1910–15; un- 2 + quote

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:

"He was like, 'that doesn't change anything. I still want to be with you.' And that's when we started, like, quote unquote, going out."

From BBC Sep. 9, 2026

“They said I, quote unquote, rammed federal agents,” she said at a congressional hearing in February.

From The Wall Street Journal May 1, 2026

“This is the first time, even by his own words, that it has been a quote, unquote, blowout.”

From MarketWatch Dec. 31, 2025

"Parents are betting big that getting their kid into a quote unquote 'good' college is the only way to protect them in a country that offers very few and increasingly fewer social safety nets."

From Salon Aug. 26, 2023

I figured he must be on the other bus, but then I overheard Miles tell Amos that Julian ditched the grade trip because he thought the whole nature-retreat thing was, quote unquote, dorky.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

There are also allowances for unquoted shares, which are shares in a business not listed on the stock exchange.

From BBC Jul. 31, 2024

Mr Woodford's firm says the suspension will give it "time to reposition the element of the fund's portfolio invested in unquoted and less liquid stocks, into more liquid investments".

From BBC Jun. 4, 2019

But twitting a playwright for not being Shakespeare is blatantly unfair, so it’s best to leave the rest unquoted.

From New York Times Jul. 25, 2017

So it seems Bharara’s channeling of Schumer’s credo is correct: Modesty is for the unquoted.

From Washington Post Oct. 24, 2013

In woodcraft he was a trustworthy though unquoted authority.

From Cattle Brands A Collection of Western Camp-fire Stories by Andy Adams

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