# cite

/ˈsaɪt/ (US) · /sˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cite
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to mention as evidence

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to mention something as a reason or an example to support what you are saying.

For teachers: to mention or refer to something as an example or as proof in an argument.

- The report cited a lack of funding as the main reason for the project's failure.
- The economist cited several recent studies to support her claim that inflation would likely stabilise by the end of the fiscal year.

Usage: Often used with 'as' to introduce the reason or evidence.

### 2. to reference a source

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to write or say which book, article, or person an idea or quote came from.

For teachers: to provide a formal reference to a source of information in a piece of academic work.

- You must cite all your sources at the end of your essay.
- Students are required to cite their sources using a consistent style to avoid any accusations of academic dishonesty.

Usage: Transitive verb taking a direct object of the source or author.

### 3. to summon to court

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to officially order someone to appear in a court of law.

For teachers: to summon a person officially to appear before a court or tribunal.

- The witness was cited to appear in court next Tuesday.
- The defendant was cited for contempt of court after repeatedly interrupting the judge during the preliminary hearing.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice in legal contexts.

### 4. a citation

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Academic

a short name for a formal note that says where information came from.

For teachers: an informal shortening of 'citation', referring to a reference in a text.

- Check your paper to make sure every cite is formatted correctly.
- The professor noted that several cites in the bibliography were missing the publication dates.

Teaching tip: This noun form is much less common than the full word 'citation' and is mostly used by students or researchers in casual conversation.

## Examples

- You must cite your sources at the end of the essay.
- The lawyer decided to cite a previous court case to prove that his client was innocent.
- In her thesis, the researcher had to cite several peer-reviewed studies to justify her unconventional methodology and ensure the validity of her findings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.