unquote

[ uhn-kwoht; contrastively uhn-kwoht ]

/ ʌnˈkwoʊt; contrastively ˈʌnˌkwoʊt /

Save This Word!

verb (used without object), un·quot·ed, un·quot·ing.

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.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of unquote

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

Words nearby unquote

unquestionable, unquestionably, unquestioned, unquestioning, unquiet, unquote, unraped, unrated, unravel, unreactive, unread

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use unquote in a sentence

My quote-unquote soil, which is water, turns over a thousand times a day.
Is the Future of Farming in the Ocean? (Ep. 467)|Stephen J. Dubner|June 24, 2021|Freakonomics
I remember starting to post in October and taking it, quote-unquote, a little bit more seriously — trying to build a brand off of it.
Digiday Guide: Everything you need to know about Gen Z’s media consumption habits|Kayleigh Barber|June 23, 2021|Digiday
It’s issued by the, you know, in some ways, quote-unquote, the top of the house.
Podcast: What’s AI doing in your wallet?|Anthony Green|April 14, 2021|MIT Technology Review
There’s proof that professionally produced quote-unquote long-form, TV-like content is one category of video.
Future of TV Briefing: The pandemic will not be televised|Tim Peterson|April 14, 2021|Digiday

Every few years, there’s some quote-unquote free-speech platform that gets founded in response to changes or policy changes that have been made.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian: An online platform free of hate is ‘really good for business’|KK Ottesen|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
That to me felt like a moment where she really needed to put on her “Olivia Pope,” quote unquote, identity.
Kerry Washington’s Favorite ‘Scandal’ Season 3 Moments|Kerry Washington|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A trove of Bush-era emails that had been quote-unquote-lost resurfaced in 2009, the victim of an ostensible act of mislabeling.
Paging Rose Mary Woods: Obama’s Unbelievable Missing IRS Emails|James Poulos|June 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The risk of claiming that a series has jumped the shark, quote-unquote, is that you could be jumping the gun.
‘Still Positive’ Shows Why ‘Homeland’ Hasn’t Jumped the Shark (Yet)|Andrew Romano|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To have your lifeline and your family be your quote unquote day job—you can do a movie and then hop right back.
Matt Damon and John Krasinski Talk About Their Bromance, ‘Promised Land,’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Cain accused Rove of mounting “a deliberate attempt to damage me because I am not, quote unquote, the establishment choice.”
'Tired' Cain Campaign Slows Down|Howard Kurtz|October 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He isn't your friend Shefter; Shefter retired on account of quote ill-health unquote.
Space Viking|Henry Beam Piper
The President, however, has regained consciousness, and his life is in no danger—Unquote.
Hail to the Chief|Gordon Randall Garrett
Took a suite in Space Verge hotel with four quote secretaries unquote, and has refused to see anyone.
The Telenizer|Don Thompson
Quote, "Lowery stated he and several others grabbed Ruby," unquote.
Warren Commission (12 of 26): Hearings Vol. XII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
The spec says quote shall be free from objectionable cavitation unquote.
Triplanetary|Edward Elmer Smith

British Dictionary definitions for unquote

unquote

/ (ʌnˈkwəʊt) /

interjection

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

verb

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