Definitions
01a signal for action
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a signal, such as a word or action, that tells you it is time to do something.
n. a signal, whether verbal or physical, that serves as an indicator for a person to begin a specific action or speech.
Español:señal
“The actor waited for his cue before walking onto the stage.”
“The conductor gave a sharp nod as a cue for the woodwind section to begin their solo passage.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'for' or 'to'.
02a social or environmental hint
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a small sign or hint in a situation that helps you understand what is happening.
n. an indirect suggestion or environmental stimulus that provides information about how to behave or respond.
“I missed the social cues and didn't realize she was upset.”
“Infants rely heavily on non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and tone of voice, to interpret their parents' emotions.”
03sports equipment
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. a long, thin wooden stick used to hit the ball in games like pool, snooker, or billiards.
n. a long, tapering wooden rod used to strike the cue ball in various billiard sports.
“He chalked the tip of his cue before taking the final shot.”
“Professional players often travel with their own custom-made cues to ensure consistent weight and balance during tournaments.”
04to give a signal
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to give someone a signal to start doing something.
v. to provide a prompt or signal to an individual, particularly in a performance or broadcasting context.
“The director will cue the lights to dim as the music starts.”
“The floor manager will cue the presenter once the commercial break has ended and the cameras are live again.”
Usage
Often used as a phrasal verb 'cue up' when referring to preparing media for playback.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cue” in context.
Verb
01. take cue
“Investors often take their cue from the central bank's latest interest rate announcements.”
verb + noun
Adjective
02. visual cue
“The teacher used a visual cue, like a picture card, to help the students remember the new word.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Shoppers can take cues when managers step in to help their staff.” Etymology
From Middle English cu (used for half a farthing, from q as an abbreviation for Latin quadrāns (“quarter of an as”)), from Latin cū, kū. Compare French ku.
From earlier qu, abbreviation of Latin quandō (“when”), marked on actor's play copy where they were to begin.
Variant of queue, from French queue (“tail”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. cue up
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/cue
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0