ENGLISH
REFERENCE

quotes

n.
US //ˈkwoʊts// UK //kwˈəʊts// quotes
  1. 1 repeated words (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the exact words that someone else has said or written.

    verbatim repetitions of phrases or passages from a speech or text.

    Example

    The article was full of interesting quotes from the famous director.

    Example

    The biographer included several direct quotes from private letters to provide a more intimate perspective on the subject's motivations.
  2. 2 punctuation marks (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the marks (' ') or (" ") used around words to show that someone is speaking.

    the punctuation marks used to attribute speech or to highlight a specific term.

    Example

    Don't forget to put quotes around the title of the poem.

    Example

    The editor insisted on using single quotes for the internal dialogue to distinguish it from the spoken narrative.
  3. 3 price estimates (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    statements of how much a piece of work will cost.

    formal statements setting out the estimated cost for a particular job or service.

    Example

    We asked three different builders for quotes before choosing one.

    Example

    The procurement department compared several quotes from competing vendors to ensure the project remained within the allocated budget.

Last updated June 19, 2026