Word
reference
Phoneticsref·er·ence, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛfɝəns/
UK/ɹˈɛfɹəns/
Definitions
01mentioning something
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the act of mentioning something or someone in speech or writing.
n. the act of mentioning or alluding to something. Often used with the preposition 'to'.
“The speaker made a quick reference to the new law during her presentation.”
“The author made several subtle references to local history that only long-term residents of the town would truly appreciate.”
02academic source
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a note in a book that tells you where a piece of information came from.
n. a citation or note in a text that identifies a source of information or a previously published work.
“You must include a list of references at the end of your essay.”
“The professor insisted that every factual claim be supported by a primary source reference to ensure academic integrity.”
03job testimonial
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a letter written by someone who knows you, describing your skills to a new employer.
n. a formal statement or letter provided by a referee regarding a person's character, skills, or previous work performance.
“My old manager agreed to write a positive reference for my new job application.”
“The recruitment agency contacted three professional references to verify the candidate's experience before making a final offer.”
Synonyms
04for information
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. something used to find facts, like a dictionary or a map.
n. a source of information used for consultation, such as a dictionary or encyclopedia. Often used as an attributive noun.
“Keep this manual nearby for easy reference while you build the desk.”
“The library keeps its most valuable reference books in a separate room where they cannot be borrowed.”
05computing pointer
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a piece of data that tells a computer where to find other information.
n. an object or value that refers to data stored elsewhere in memory rather than containing the data itself.
“The program crashed because it tried to access a reference that no longer existed.”
“Passing a large object by reference is generally more efficient than passing it by value, as it avoids unnecessary data copying.”
06to cite or mention
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to mention something or list it as a source.
v. to provide a list of references for a text or to cite a specific source. Sometimes used as a synonym for 'refer to'.
Español:referenciar
“The report references several studies conducted over the last ten years.”
“The article extensively references recent breakthroughs in quantum computing to support its predictions about future encryption.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reference” in context.
Verb
01. cite reference
“Students are required to cite every reference used in their essays.”
verb + noun
02. make reference
“He made reference to the new policy during his speech.”
verb + noun
03. omit reference
“The report carefully omitted any reference to the failed experiment.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. brief reference
“The author makes a brief reference to his childhood in the first chapter.”
adj + noun
05. cross reference
“Please check the cross reference at the bottom of the page for more details.”
adj + noun
06. direct reference
“There was no direct reference to the scandal during the meeting.”
adj + noun
07. glowing reference
“Her former manager gave her a glowing reference for the new position.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. book of reference
“Dictionaries and encyclopedias are common books of reference.”
noun + prep + noun
09. letter of reference
“She asked her professor to write a letter of reference for her internship.”
noun + prep + noun
10. contain reference
11. in reference to
“I am writing in reference to your advertisement in yesterday's paper.”
12. include reference
Etymology
From Middle French référence, from Medieval Latin referentia, nominative neuter plural of referēns, present participle of referō (“return, reply”, literally “carry back”). Morphologically refer + -ence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/reference
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0