Cue — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈkyü/

Meaning & Definition of Cue

Cue (noun)

  1. the letter q
  2. a signal (such as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business) to a performer to begin a specific speech or action
  3. something serving a comparable purpose, hint
  4. a feature indicating the nature of something perceived
  5. a leather-tipped tapering rod for striking the cue ball (as in billiards and pool)
  6. a long-handled instrument with a concave head for shoving disks in shuffleboard
  7. queue

Cue (verb)

  1. to give a cue to, prompt
  2. to insert into a continuous performance
  3. queue
  4. to strike with a cue
  5. queue

Cue (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation)

    "taking a cue from nature, scientists are developing safe and effective insecticides using insect hormones"

    similar: clue, hint, indication, inkling, intimation, lead, suggestion
    related: breath, flicker, glimmer, glimpse, mention, scent, whiff, wind, hunch, idea, inspiration, notion, allusion, implication, inference, innuendo, insinuation, denotation, evidence, guidepost, key, mark, overtone, pointer, sign, signal, telltale, token, assistance, nod, prompt, tip, tip-off, wink, feeling, foreboding, intuition, premonition, presentiment, suspicion, augury, foreshadower, foretaste, harbinger, omen, portent, prefigurement, presage, symptom
    near: answer, solution

  2. a series of persons or things arranged one behind another

    "the cue to get tickets to the concert moved with agonizing slowness"

    similar: column, file, line, queue, range, string, train
    related: echelon, rank, row, tier, chain, progression, sequence, succession, array

Cue (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in line, line up

    similar: align, line, line up, queue, emplace, place, set, unscramble, alphabetize, file, hierarchize, prioritize, sequence, display, map (out), set out, arrange, array, balance, classify, codify, dispose, draw up, equalize, even, lay out, marshal, order, organize, proportion, range, regularize, standardize, systematize, groom, make up, spruce (up), straighten (up), tidy (up)
    opposite: derange, disarrange, disarray, disorder, mess (up), muss (up), rumple, misalign

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cue

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cue:

clue, hint, indication, inkling, intimation, lead, suggestion, column, file, line, queue, range, string, train, align, line up, emplace, place, set, unscramble, alphabetize, hierarchize, prioritize, sequence, display, map (out), set out, arrange, array, balance, classify, codify, dispose, draw up, equalize, even, lay out, marshal, order, organize

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cue

Words with the opposite meaning of Cue:

derange, disarrange, disarray, disorder, mess (up), muss (up), rumple, misalign

Related Words for Cue

breath, flicker, glimmer, glimpse, mention, scent, whiff, wind, hunch, idea, inspiration, notion, allusion, implication, inference, innuendo, insinuation, denotation, evidence, guidepost, key, mark, overtone, pointer, sign, signal, telltale, token, assistance, nod

Near Antonyms of Cue

answer, solution

Word Forms of Cue

Inflections: cued, cuing, cueing

Origin & Etymology of Cue

Middle English cu half a farthing (spelled form of q, abbreviation for Latin quadrans quarter of an as)

First known use: circa 1755

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cue

Words & Phrases Containing Cue

cue ball, cue card, on cue, take a/one's cue from

Frequently Asked Questions about Cue

What does "Cue" mean?

"Cue" means the letter q. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the letter q. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cue"?

Other words for "Cue" include clue, hint, indication, inkling, intimation, lead, suggestion and column. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cue" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cue"?

There are 105 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cue". Common alternatives include clue, hint, indication, inkling, intimation, lead, suggestion, column, file and line.

What is the opposite of "Cue"?

Antonyms of "Cue" include derange, disarrange, disarray, disorder, mess (up), muss (up), rumple and misalign. Near antonyms include answer and solution.

How do you use "Cue" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cue" in a sentence: "taking a cue from nature, scientists are developing safe and effective insecticides using insect hormones"; "the cue to get tickets to the concert moved with agonizing slowness".

Is "Cue" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cue" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Cue" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Cue" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Cue"?

"Cue" is pronounced /ˈkyü/.