quote

verb \ ˈkwōt also ˈkōt \

Updated on: 26 May 2018

Definition of quote

quoted; quoting

transitive verb

1 a : to speak or write (a passage) from another usually with credit acknowledgment

b : to repeat a passage from especially in substantiation or illustration

c : borrow 2a

quoting the motifs of past artists

2 : to cite in illustration

quote a similar case

3 a : to state (the current price or bid-offer spread) for a commodity, stock, or bond

b : to give exact information on

4 : to set off by quotation marks

intransitive verb

: to inform a hearer or reader that matter following is quoted

—

quoter

noun

See quote defined for English-language learners

See quote defined for kids

Examples of quote in a Sentence

He began his speech by quoting Shakespeare.
The reporter quoted the police chief as saying that an investigation would be launched soon.
He quotes the Bible frequently.

Recent Examples of quote from the Web

To quote a different song entirely: Talk about the money, money, money.

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "Jennifer Lopez Wore a Real $100 Bill on Her Nails to the 2018 Billboard Music Awards," 21 May 2018
Meghan, shrewd in her choices and earnest in her passions, lets her light shine, to quote the gospel song that played as guests exited.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "Why Harry and Meghan's Wedding Was a Meaningful Step Forward for the Monarchy," 19 May 2018
One parent who didn't want to be directly quoted said some students play in their underwear or swimsuits.

— karen pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Teens cited for running around naked with squirt guns — this time in Brookfield," 14 May 2018
This is a narrative that desperately needs to be told over and over and over again, to quote the CNN ad.

— david zurawik, baltimoresun.com, "The more Trump attacks, the more popular culture articulates, celebrates role of the press," 10 May 2018
Several people in the White House, who like others interviewed for this story did not want to be quoted by name discussing the first couple's relationship, said Melania does not trust some members of her husband's staff.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Melania Trump's complicated life inside a most untraditional White House," 7 May 2018
Several people in the White House, who like others interviewed for this story did not want to be quoted by name discussing the first couple's relationship, said Melania does not trust some members of her husband's staff.

— author: mary jordan, emily heil, josh dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, "Inside Melania Trump’s complicated White House life: Separate schedule, different priorities," 7 May 2018
One is that there is a population boom among jellyfish and similar creatures about every six years, he was quoted saying.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "One of the world's top beaches is a 'blue carpet of slime' after creatures wash ashore | Charlotte Observer," 2 May 2018
Several people in the White House, who like others interviewed for this story did not want to be quoted by name discussing the first couple's relationship, said Melania does not trust some members of her husband's staff.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Melania Trump's complicated life inside a most untraditional White House," 7 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of quote

Medieval Latin quotare to mark the number of, number references, from Latin quotus of what number or quantity, from quot how many, (as) many as; akin to Latin qui who — more at who

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1582

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

quote Synonyms

Synonyms

advert (to), cite, drop, instance, mention, name, note, notice, refer (to), specify, touch (on or upon);

Near Antonyms

disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight;

point (out), signal, signify;

denominate, designate;

indicate;

bring up, broach, interject, interpolate, interpose, introduce;

infiltrate, insinuate, worm;

advertise, announce, broadcast, declare, proclaim, pronounce, publicize, publish, sound;

quote

noun

Definition of quote

1 : quotation

2 : quotation mark —often used orally to indicate the beginning of a direct quotation

See quote defined for English-language learners

Examples of quote in a Sentence

Each chapter of the book began with an inspirational quote.
She included quotes from the poem in her essay.
The article included quotes from the mayor and several councilors.
The price quotes exceeded our expectations.
I checked the stock quotes online.
Titles of newspaper articles should be placed in quotes.

Recent Examples of quote from the Web

The series, writes Komaroff in a blog post about its acquisition by LACMA earlier this year, was inspired by a quote attributed to the dying leader, who was assassinated after almost a half-century of rule.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "Exhibition Shows How Iran’s Present and Past Merge Through Art," 9 May 2018
Here's the full context of his quote about the Rockets chance to win a championship this year.

— matt young, Houston Chronicle, "Dwight Howard: I don't know if can watch Rockets win a title," 8 May 2018
Choose from a variety of quotes to personalize your painting.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Vernon Edition," 8 May 2018
Here are four lessons Trump can learn from his wife's new agenda (as illustrated by her quotes from today's speech): 1.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "4 things Melania Trump can teach her husband about life," 7 May 2018
My kid’s Instagram account was scoured for relevant quotes.

— ta-nehisi coates, The Atlantic, "I’m Not Black, I’m Kanye," 7 May 2018
Reached by telephone on Wednesday evening, Sellers had no comment on BJCTA policy or his quotes.

— roy s. johnson, AL.com, "Docs showing personal spending by prior BJCTA exec called 'desperate'," 3 May 2018
Photo: Matt Slocum/Associated Press Seligman says one of the most laborious papers of his academic life involved computing the emotional profiles of the Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets in the 1980s by mining their quotes in the local newspapers.

— andrew beaton, WSJ, "It’s Never Been Sunnier in Philadelphia," 2 May 2018
Is there any part of that quote that stands out to you, specifically?

— justin scott campbell, Longreads, "Earning Our Place on the Planet: An Interview with adrienne maree brown," 24 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of quote

1888

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

quote Synonyms

Synonyms

citation, quotation;

Related Words

allusion, reference;

excerpt, extract;

line, part, section;

snippet;

Financial Definition of QUOTE

quote

noun

What It Is

A quote is an estimate of price or a price at which one party is willing to buy or sell from the other. In the trading markets, a quote is the bid and ask price for a security.

How It Works

For example, a quote for Company XYZ stock includes the real-time bid price, ask price, quote size, price of the last trade, size of the last trade, the high price for the day, and the low price for the day. Quotes are available from the exchanges online, via the media or in financial publications.

Why It Matters

Quotes are necessary to inform investors about the prices of securities. The information contained in a quote is sometimes limited; for example, it may not disclose which market makers are bidding for or offering the security, whether there are limit orders on the security, or the size of potential trades at a particular price. In other words, quotes do not give the viewer access to the "order book" showing who has an interest in a security and at what price. But quotes do give traders and investors a basic idea of how a security is doing.

Source: Investing Answers

QUOTE Defined for English Language Learners

quote

verb

Definition of quote for English Language Learners

: to repeat (something written or said by another person) exactly
: to write or say the exact words of (someone)
: to write or say a line or short section from (a piece of writing or a speech)

QUOTE Defined for Kids

quote

verb \ ˈkwōt \

Definition of quote for Students

quoted; quoting

: to repeat (someone else's words) exactly

I quoted my favorite poem.

History for quote

Sometimes passages in books are numbered. The English word quote came from a medieval Latin word quotare that meant “to refer to a passage by number.” English quote means “to repeat the words of a passage exactly.” The idea of number has been lost.