cite

verb

\ ˈsīt

cited; citing

Definition of cite

transitive verb

1 : to call upon officially or authoritatively to appear (as before a court)

2 : to quote by way of example, authority, or proof cites several noteworthy authors

3a : to refer to especially : to mention formally in commendation or praise She was cited for bravery.

b : to name in a citation cited by the trustees for his work in public health

4 : to bring forward or call to another's attention especially as an example, proof, or precedent cited the weather as a reason for canceling the picnic cited several studies that support his theory

Other Words from cite Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Cite, Sight, and Site More Example Sentences Learn More about cite

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Choose the Right Synonym for cite

summon, call, cite, convoke, convene, muster mean to demand the presence of. summon implies the exercise of authority. was summoned to answer charges call may be used less formally for summon. called the legislature into special session cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge. cited for drunken driving convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes. convoked a Vatican council convene is somewhat less formal than convoke. convened the students muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole. mustered the troops

Cite, Sight, and Site

The three homophones cite, sight, and site are occasionally confused by some people when used as nouns (sight and site) or as verbs (all three words). They needn’t cause trouble: with a little thought, most people who struggle with them can settle upon the correct choice.

Cite is most often encountered in the sense of “to name in a citation”; it may also mean “to mention as an example” or “to order to appear in a court of law.“

Most of the senses of sight are concerned with the act or action of seeing. A wonderful spectacle might be described as a sight, as might the general capacity to see anything (“my sight is not as good as it once was”).

Site is most often concerned with location; it is related to the verb situate "to locate" and situation "a position." A building site is the place where the building is, or will be, located. In contemporary English, site has increasingly been used as a shortened form of website, for the location of a specific page on the Internet.

If you connect citation with cite, eyesight with sight, and situate with site, you are unlikely to make an error.

Examples of cite in a Sentence

The article cites several experts on the subject. The museum had often been cited as an example of successful fund-raising. He cited evidence suggesting she was in the area when the crime was committed. She was cited for reckless driving.

Recent Examples on the Web

Here’s a look at the gains Nvidia saw when activating DLSS in Anthem on a Core i9-9900K system: Nvidia Note that Nvidia’s numbers cite 4K performance alone, even with the more mainstream GeForce RTX 2060. — Brad Chacos, PCWorld, "BioWare's Anthem adds DLSS support as Nvidia's RTX push continues," 26 Mar. 2019 Taylor HillGetty Images When John Carreyrou’s Wall Street Journal article came out in October 2015, citing whistleblowers who doubted the ability of Theranos’s central product to do any of what the company claimed, everything came crashing down. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "Elizabeth Holmes Is a Tragic Figure," 18 Mar. 2019 The experiment has been included in many, many introductory psychology textbooks and is often cited uncritically. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "7 bad science and health ideas that should die with 2018," 26 Dec. 2018 The Arab Spring is often cited as the event that convinced big tech platforms that they would primarily be used for good. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "How Kevin Hart tweeted himself out of a job hosting the Oscars," 8 Dec. 2018 Snoop Dogg, Alfonso Ribeiro, Marlon Webb, and Donald Faison are cited in the lawsuit as other black artists whose dance moves have been appropriated for the game. — Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, "Rapper sues Epic Games over “unauthorized” Fortnite dance use," 6 Dec. 2018 Instead, Biden started the hearing on a skeptical note by asking Hill to cite the precise physical locations for all of her allegations against Thomas, ostensibly forcing her to repeat them through sighs. — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, "What's Missing from Joe Biden's Anita Hill Comments," 27 Mar. 2019 Otero repeatedly asked Avenatti to cite case law to support his arguments. — Brian Melley, The Seattle Times, "Porn star’s hush money suit against Trump could be tossed," 22 Jan. 2019 Valais prosecutor Catherine Seppey said authorities were investigating what triggered the avalanche, citing weather conditions or skier behavior as possibilities. — Jamey Keaten, The Seattle Times, "Avalanche hits skiers at Swiss resort; 4 rescued so far," 19 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

13 Apr 2019

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The first known use of cite was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for cite

cite

verb

English Language Learners Definition of cite

: to write or say the words of (a book, author, etc.)

: to mention (something) especially as an example or to support an idea or opinion

law : to order (someone) to appear before a court of law

See the full definition for cite in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cite

verb

\ ˈsīt

cited; citing

Kids Definition of cite

1 : to order to appear in court She was cited for reckless driving.

2 : to quote as an example, authority, or proof He cites several experts in his report.

3 : to refer to especially in praise The school was cited as a model for others.

cite

transitive verb

\ ˈsīt

cited; citing

Legal Definition of cite

1 : to demand the appearance of in court : serve with a citation had been cited for contempt you are hereby cited to show cause in the Probate Court

2 : to quote or refer to as a precedent or authority the plaintiff cites several cases for the proposition