clue

1 of 2

noun

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

clue

2 of 2

verb

clued; clueing or cluing

transitive verb

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

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.

Examples of clue in a Sentence

Noun 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. Verb would you clue him in on the plan?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
After much soul searching across time, Lilia reads her own fortune through tarot cards and pieces together the clues for the rest of the coven. Nick Romano, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024 Along with pottery, the team has excavated kilns, as well as clues that workers in the city smelted iron ores, Frachetti says. Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
Yesterday, on the eve of the launch, Disney+ programming boss Sofía Fábregas, creator and showrunner Eulàlia Carillo, and director Jordi Frades, clued Deadline in on the buzzy project. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024 Next, the testers who spend hours in the kitchen reviewing gear clue you in on their favorite scores. Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clue 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of clew

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clue was circa 1665

Dictionary Entries Near clue

Cite this Entry

“Clue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clue. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

clue

1 of 2 noun
1
: something that helps a person find something or solve a mystery
2
: idea sense 2, conception
had no clue what he meant

clue

2 of 2 verb
clued; clueing or cluing
1
: to provide with a clue
2
: to give information to
clue me in on the news

More from Merriam-Webster on clue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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