# citing

/ˈsaɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈaɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. referring to a source

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

mentioning a book, author, or study to support your ideas.

For teachers: referencing a specific source, such as a text or author, to provide evidence or authority for a claim. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- She is citing several famous scientists in her research paper to prove her point.
- The student was careful about citing every primary source used in the dissertation to avoid any accusations of academic dishonesty.

### 2. giving a reason

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

mentioning something as a reason why something else happened.

For teachers: mentioning or bringing forward something as a reason, justification, or example. Often used in formal reporting or legal contexts.

- The company closed the factory, citing high costs and low sales.
- The judge dismissed the case, citing a lack of physical evidence and inconsistent witness testimony.

### 3. a reference

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

the act of naming a source or a specific mention of a rule.

For teachers: the act of citation or a specific instance of referencing a source or legal authority.

- The lawyer's citing of previous cases helped the jury understand the law.
- The constant citing of obscure regulations made the contract difficult for the average person to read.

## Examples

- She is citing several studies to prove her point.
- The lawyer spent the afternoon citing previous court cases to show that his client was innocent.
- By citing the original manuscript rather than modern translations, the historian provided a more nuanced interpretation of the treaty's controversial third clause.

---

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.