ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cited

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsaɪtəd// UK //sˈaɪtɪd// cit·ed

v. to mention something as a reason or an example to support an idea. You use this when you want to show where you got your information.

v. to quote or refer to a passage, book, or author as evidence for or justification of an argument. Often used in academic contexts to attribute ideas to their original source.


SIMPLE

She cited several studies to prove her point.

CONTEXTUAL

The lawyer cited a previous court case to show that his client was innocent.

COMPLEX

While the report cited economic factors as the primary cause of the decline, many independent analysts argued that social shifts played an equally significant role.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a source, reason, or piece of evidence.

Pitfall

He cited about the book in his essay.He cited the book in his essay.Cite is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object and should not be followed by a preposition like 'about'.

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