1
a
: a signal (such as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business) to a performer to begin a specific speech or action
That last line is your cue to exit the stage.
b
: something serving a comparable purpose : hint
I'll take that yawn as my cue to leave.
2
: a feature indicating the nature of something perceived
The expressions on people's faces give us visual cues about their feelings.
3
archaic
: the part one has to perform in or as if in a play
cued; cuing or cueing
1
: to give a cue to : prompt
cued the band to begin
2
: to insert into a continuous performance
cue in sound effects
1
a
: a leather-tipped tapering rod for striking the cue ball (as in billiards and pool)
b
: a long-handled instrument with a concave head for shoving disks in shuffleboard
2
cued; cuing or cueing
Synonyms
Noun (2)
Noun (3)
Examples of cue in a Sentence
Noun (2)
taking a cue from nature, scientists are developing safe and effective insecticides using insect hormones
Noun (3)
the cue to get tickets to the concert moved with agonizing slowness
Recent Examples on the Web
Rhonda Richford, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024
Our nervous system is always scanning our environment for cues of safety or danger.
—Noma Nazish, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Charlie Mason, TVLine, 3 Nov. 2024
Visual descriptions can also be a great way to cue anti-ableism.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cue 
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Noun
The new outpost retains the same warm woods as its original Marais store, opened last year, and takes cues from the brand’s workshop.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024
Our nervous system is always scanning our environment for cues of safety or danger.
—Noma Nazish, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Laurent needn’t cue up Edith Piaf, either, Daryl assured the boy.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 3 Nov. 2024
Visual descriptions can also be a great way to cue anti-ableism.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cue
Dictionary Entries Near cue
Cite this Entry
“Cue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cue. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cue
2 of 3 verb
cued; cuing
: to give a cue to
cue
3 of 3 noun1
: a tapering rod used in playing billiards or pool
Etymology
Noun
probably from q or qu, abbreviations for Latin quando "when," formerly used in actors' copies of scripts of plays
Noun
from French queue "tail, a line of people," from early French cue, coe "tail," from Latin cauda "tail" — related to coward, queue, coda see Word History at coward, queue
Medical Definition
cue
noun
: a minor stimulus acting as an indication of the nature of the perceived object or situation
foreshortened lines in the picture are cues to depth perception
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