# cited

/ˈsaɪtəd/ (US) · /sˈaɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cited
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. mentioned as a reason

verb · CEFR B2

mentioned something as a reason for why something happened.

For teachers: adduced or mentioned as a reason, cause, or justification for an action or event.

- The manager cited a lack of time as the main reason for the delay.
- The CEO cited shifting market conditions and increased competition as the primary drivers behind the company's decision to restructure its European operations.

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

### 2. referenced a source

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

wrote down where information came from in a report or essay.

For teachers: referenced a specific passage, book, or author as evidence for an argument, typically in an academic context.

- She cited three different books in her history essay.
- The researcher cited several peer-reviewed studies to support her hypothesis regarding the long-term effects of the policy change.

Usage: In academic writing, this implies following a specific formatting style like APA or MLA.

### 3. having a citation

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

describes a piece of work or a person that has been mentioned in a list of sources.

For teachers: referring to a work, author, or legal case that has been formally referenced in another text.

- He is one of the most cited authors in the field of science.
- The most frequently cited cases in the brief were those involving constitutional privacy rights from the last decade.

Teaching tip: This is very common in academic rankings to show how influential a researcher is.

## Examples

- She cited several studies to prove her point.
- The lawyer cited a previous court case to show that his client was innocent.
- 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.

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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.