cite

verb

ˈsīt 

cited; citing

transitive verb

1

: to call upon officially or authoritatively to appear (as before a court)

2

: to quote by way of example, authority, or proof

cites several noteworthy authors

3

a

: to refer to

especially : to mention formally in commendation or praise

She was cited for bravery.

b

: to name in a citation

cited by the trustees for his work in public health

4

: to bring forward or call to another's attention especially as an example, proof, or precedent

cited the weather as a reason for canceling the picnic

cited several studies that support his theory

citable

ˈsī-tə-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Cite, Sight, and Site

As homophones—words that sound alike but are distinct— cite, sight, and site are easily confused, but they have different meanings, uses, and origins.

Cite is most often encountered in the sense of "to name in a citation"—that is, a line or short section taken from a piece of writing or a speech; it may also mean "to mention as an example" or "to order to appear in a court of law." Cite is from the Latin citare, "to rouse, call on, summon," source too of citation and recite.

Most of the senses of sight are concerned with seeing. A wonderful spectacle might be described as a sight, as might the general capacity to see anything ("my sight is not as good as it once was"). Sight is also used in a number of fixed phrases, such as "out of sight, out of mind," "sight unseen," and "set one's sights on." Sight comes from Old English gesiht, meaning "the faculty or act of sight, thing seen."

Site is most often concerned with location; it is related to situate, "to locate," and situation, "relative position or combination of circumstances at a particular moment." A building site is the place where a building is, or will be, located. In contemporary English, site is frequently used as a shortened form of website, to refer to the location of a group of web pages. Site comes from Latin situs, meaning "place, position, site."

Associating citation with cite, eyesight with sight, and situate with site may be helpful in applying these correctly.

Synonyms

• adduce
• instance
• mention
• quote

Choose the Right Synonym for cite

summon, call, cite, convoke, convene, muster mean to demand the presence of.

summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

Examples of cite in a Sentence

The article cites several experts on the subject.

The museum had often been cited as an example of successful fund-raising.

He cited evidence suggesting she was in the area when the crime was committed.

She was cited for reckless driving.

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, Lee cites a client who put butterfly wallpaper in the entryway closet where her kids store their coats and shoes. —Matt Alderton, USA Today, 3 May 2025

Her attorney cited Sayegh’s nine years of police work and previously clean record for justifying rehabilitation. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025

Advertising slid 17% to $22.9M, with the company citing a carriage impasse with TelevisaUnivision, which resulted in its networks going dark on Fubo during the quarter. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 May 2025

In the court filing, the A.C.L.U. cites the Supreme Court’s instruction from the Abrego García case. —Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 2 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French citer to cite, summon, from Latin citare to put in motion, rouse, summon, from frequentative of ciēre to stir, move — more at -kinesis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cite

• bight
• bite
• blight
• byte
• dight
• fight
• fite
• flight
• fright
• height
• hight
• kite

Kids Definition

cite

verb

ˈsīt 

cited; citing

1

: to summon to appear before a court

2

: to quote as an example, authority, or proof

3

: to refer to especially in praise

Legal Definition

cite

transitive verb

ˈsīt 

cited; citing

1

: to demand the appearance of in court : serve with a citation

had been cited for contempt

you are hereby cited to show cause in the Probate Court

2

: to quote or refer to as a precedent or authority

the plaintiff cites several cases for the proposition

Etymology

Latin citare to rouse, call on, summon