clue

play

noun \ˈklü\

Definition of clue

1 : something that guides through an intricate procedure or maze of difficulties; specifically : a piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem
2 : idea, notion had no clue what he meant

See clue defined for English-language learners

See clue defined for kids

Examples of clue in a Sentence

The book gives the reader plenty of clues to solve the mystery.
Science gives us clues about the origin of the universe.
“Guess who I met today.” “Can you give me a clue?”
It gives a clue as to how to proceed.

Recent Examples of clue from the Web

And therein lies another clue to the underpinnings of her work.

— gayle clemans, The Seattle Times, "Review: At Seattle Art Museum, ‘Infinity Mirrors’ is spectacular, surreal — and, yes, reflective", 29 June 2017
The time and place of release could have been a clue.

— Washington Post, "New highly virulent strain of ransomware cripples networks", 28 June 2017
There may have been a clue in the New York Times story why Louisville wasn’t selected –

— joseph gerth, The Courier-Journal, "Why was Louisville left out of federal plan to fight violent crime? | Joseph Gerth", 26 June 2017
The wait for an explanation about what might have happened to the Miramar father of three has left friends and former colleagues searching for clues themselves and has frustrated some family members.

— jay weaver and david ovalle, miamiherald, "A month later, mystery shrouds case of federal prosecutor found dead on Hollywood beach", 26 June 2017
Perhaps this is a clue that violence is about to hit him?

— megan friedman, Harper's BAZAAR, "Breaking Down Every Single Moment From the Newest Game of Thrones Trailer", 21 June 2017
Wochit Clues in the mysterious death of Otto Warmbier may come from the Hamilton County Coroner.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Coroner's office may provide clues in Otto Warmbier's death", 20 June 2017
Media attention followed, and within the first few months, investigators had garnered hundred of tips and clues, Rizzo said.

— kate thayer, chicagotribune.com, "10 years after son vanished on college trip, couple still seeks answers", 20 June 2017
If the skeletal clues had been correct, the mitochondrial genomes of Palaeoloxodon should have compared most closely to today’s Asian elephants.

— brian switek, Scientific American Blog Network, "In Ancient Bones, an Elephant-Size Surprise", 12 June 2017

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

Did You Know?

The word clue was originally a variant spelling of clew, meaning “ball of thread or yarn.” Our modern sense of clue, “guide to the solution of a mystery,” grows out of a motif in myth and folklore, the ball of thread that helps in finding one’s way out of a maze. Of these stories the best known is the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. In the myth, Theseus unravels a ball of thread as he searches for the monstrous Minotaur in the Labyrinth. After killing the Minotaur, he retraces his steps out of the maze by rewinding the thread.

Origin and Etymology of clue

alteration of clew

NEW!

First Known Use: circa 1665

See Words from the same year

clue

verb

Definition of clue

clued

;

clueing

cluing

transitive verb
1 : to provide with a clue
2 : to give reliable information to he clued me in on how it happened

See clue defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of clue from the Web

Investigations like Mueller's have a way of moving from Topic A to Topic Z, from Ozarks real estate to an intern's blue dress as one question begets another and clue leads to clue.

— david von drehle, Time, "Will Robert Mueller Separate Fact From Fiction?", 22 June 2017
After that, things progressed quickly, with only a handful of people inside the White House, NSC and Congress clued in.

— patricia mazzei, miamiherald, "Inside Oval Office, Rubio and Diaz-Balart pushed Trump to crack down on Cuba", 15 June 2017
Clue Connect and other period-tracking apps point to a societal change in women's attitudes toward menstruation.

— julie washington, cleveland.com, "Period-tracking apps give heads-up when menstrual cycle is due", 9 June 2017
Federal investigators appear to be cluing on some other potential crimes that may or may not be related to that.

— aaron blake, Washington Post, "The investigation of Jared Kushner fits a very troubling pattern", 25 May 2017
That reticence served me well, because, luckily for me, I was clued in very early-on that there is no need to smell the cork when a server sets it in front of you.

— michael austin, chicagotribune.com, "Put down that wine cork: Why sniffing gets you nowhere", 23 May 2017
Can’t wait ‘til Saydee is clued into that chapter of this budding Sogard-San Diego rivalry.

— jeff sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hunter Renfroe made Saydee Sogard cry. The Padres made it up to her with cupcakes.", 16 May 2017
But sometimes now I get clued in because Tracy’s ahead of me for things.

— dave itzkoff, New York Times, "Carrie Coon, the Simultaneous Star of ‘The Leftovers’ and ‘Fargo’", 13 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of clue

1934

CLUE Defined for English Language Learners

clue

play

noun

Definition of clue for English Language Learners

: something that helps a person find something, understand something, or solve a mystery or puzzle
: an understanding of something : knowledge about something

CLUE Defined for Kids

clue

play

noun \ˈklü\

Definition of clue for Students

: something that helps a person to find something or to solve a mystery

History for clue

The word clue was originally an alternate spelling of clew, meaning “a ball of thread or yarn.” Our usual modern sense of clue, “something that helps solve a mystery,” grows out of the image of a ball of thread that helps a person to find a way out of a maze. Of stories containing this image, the best known is the Greek myth of Theseus and Ariadne. Ariadne gave the hero Theseus a ball of thread that he unraveled as he searched the labyrinth, or huge maze, of her father, King Minos. After killing the monster in the labyrinth, Theseus retraced his steps by rewinding the thread.