# quoting

/ˈkwoʊtɪŋ/ (US) · /kwˈəʊtɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. repeating words

verb · CEFR B1

repeating the exact words that someone else said or wrote.

For teachers: citing or repeating a passage from a text or speech, typically with attribution to the original author.

- The journalist was quoting the president's speech in her latest article.
- By quoting the primary sources directly, the historian provided a more authentic perspective on the events of the nineteenth century.

Usage: Often followed by a direct object or a prepositional phrase starting with 'from'.

### 2. giving a price

verb · CEFR B2

stating a price for a piece of work or a service.

For teachers: stating a fixed price for a specific job or service to a potential customer.

- The mechanic is quoting a high price for the engine repairs.
- The contractor spent the afternoon quoting several different projects, carefully calculating the cost of materials and labour for each client.

### 3. a citation

noun · CEFR B2

a statement or passage that has been repeated from another source.

For teachers: the act or instance of citing a passage or statement; a quotation.

- The student's essay was full of quoting from famous poets.
- The frequent quoting of legal precedents made the lawyer's argument much more persuasive to the jury.

## Examples

- She is quoting her favorite poem in the letter.
- The journalist is quoting the mayor's speech to ensure the public receives an accurate report of the new policy.
- By quoting several primary sources from the era, the historian successfully illustrated the widespread public anxiety that preceded the revolution.

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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.