references 1 of 2

Definition of referencesnext
plural of reference
1
as in sources
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information the author's argument is interesting, but the lack of references makes me wonder if it can be proven

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in regards
relation to or concern with something specified this reply is in reference to your last question

Synonyms & Similar Words

references

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of reference

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of references
Noun
There are seven new references in total, with prices ranging from $9,300 to $57,000. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026 The script began as a story of a 16th century warlord and his three sons—Kurosawa only added elements of Lear later on, alongside other references and inspirations. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 The jokes — good, bad and cheap — come non-stop in then show’s 90 minutes, and are filled and sometimes pummeled with pop culture and brand-name references, puns, anachronistic humor, and naughty bits. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 Cultural references and icons appear in abundance, including comic book heroes, vintage toys and other memorabilia that spark the mind and imagination. Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026 In one outcome of his policies, many references to transgender people were excised from the monument’s website and materials. ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Customers are gravitating toward pieces with authenticity and recognizable cultural references, items that feel both personal and rooted in a specific moment or aesthetic. Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 13 Apr. 2026 After Russia, China and France, all veto-wielding countries on the 15-member Security Council, expressed opposition to approving the use of force, the resolution was revised to eliminate all references to offensive action. CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026 Such rhetoric echoes in official statements as well — in prayers for destruction, in invocations of divine sanction for war and in casual references to catastrophic violence. Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for references
Noun
  • The sources described this as a discussion about how to launch direct talks.
    Brian Dakss, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The couple's adult children from previous relationships are meeting this weekend, sources told TMZ.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The world must never again be caught with its pants down in regards to the prevention, detection, and rapid treatment of pandemics.
    Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
  • But in regards to these specific collections, there’s little history to go off.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Fontenille’s deeply personal work A Secret Heart documents his father’s transition to becoming 64-year-old grandmother Lilou over the course of four years, following the death of his wife and the director’s mother, capturing the journey as well as the family’s reaction to the transformation.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Every hand that shaped this home was Black, an intentional choice that documents a standard of excellence often omitted from the traditional architectural narrative.
    Jerald “Coop” Cooper, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Kastelic has been an important player for the B’s in many respects.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
  • But the most difficult parts also offer ways forward — news that arrives via a skull, a mutilated body, evidence of closure in many respects of the word.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“References.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/references. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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