point of reference
noun phrase
: something that is used to judge or understand something else
The professor used the study as a point of reference for evaluating and discussing other theories.
Examples of point of reference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ditka’s point of reference was Jim Grabowski, a Chicago kid who starred at fullback in college for Illinois and then for five seasons in the mid-1960s with Ditka’s archrival Green Bay Packers.
—
Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
As a point of reference, that’s a little longer than the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) that measures 91 meters (300 feet) in length.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025
As a point of reference, from his first appearance after being acquired last year, Tanner Scott recorded four saves while Suárez notched 13 after August 3, setting a baseline for Miller, who can still accrue ancillary saves while racking up strikeouts and protecting a team’s ratios.
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Need a more contemporary point of reference for his work?
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
His light touch, fluidity and elegant lyricism at times suggest Pat Metheny, but as a point of reference, not a final destination, and his supple playing is a consistent delight.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
However, trade fairs are an excellent point of reference: the sectors not close to ours offer applicable ideas and improvements.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
For point of reference, Seth Lugo jumped from 65 innings to 146.1 after converting from reliever to starter with the Padres in 2023.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
The stakes escalate with a mordant velocity reminiscent of Park Chan-wook’s revenge sagas, a point of reference that continues through the darkly funny — and patently absurd — coda that Aster tacks on to the end of his film’s pulse-pounding final shootout.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
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Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
As a point of reference, that’s a little longer than the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) that measures 91 meters (300 feet) in length.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025
As a point of reference, from his first appearance after being acquired last year, Tanner Scott recorded four saves while Suárez notched 13 after August 3, setting a baseline for Miller, who can still accrue ancillary saves while racking up strikeouts and protecting a team’s ratios.
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Need a more contemporary point of reference for his work?
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
His light touch, fluidity and elegant lyricism at times suggest Pat Metheny, but as a point of reference, not a final destination, and his supple playing is a consistent delight.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
However, trade fairs are an excellent point of reference: the sectors not close to ours offer applicable ideas and improvements.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
For point of reference, Seth Lugo jumped from 65 innings to 146.1 after converting from reliever to starter with the Padres in 2023.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
The stakes escalate with a mordant velocity reminiscent of Park Chan-wook’s revenge sagas, a point of reference that continues through the darkly funny — and patently absurd — coda that Aster tacks on to the end of his film’s pulse-pounding final shootout.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Point of reference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20of%20reference. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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