Cite: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in formal or academic settings when you need to formally acknowledge another person's work or ideas.

• In her research paper, she had to cite several renowned scientists.
• You should cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

Used when repeating the exact words of another person, often with the intention of showing respect or accuracy.

• She loves to quote famous philosophers in her speeches.
• He quoted a line from his favorite movie.

Used when directing someone’s attention to something specific, can be formal or casual.

• Please refer to the manual for installation instructions.
• He often refers to his childhood experiences in his stories.

Used in casual or general conversations when briefly bringing up a person, place, or thing.

• She mentioned the new restaurant downtown during our conversation.
• He didn’t even mention that he was leaving the company.

Used when you reference someone's work or mention someone as an example or authority. Common in academic, legal, and formal contexts.

• She had to cite multiple sources for her research paper.
• The judge cited several previous cases in his ruling.

Used when calling someone to appear or be present, often implies authority or urgency but can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

• The manager summoned the team for an urgent meeting.
• She was summoned to the principal's office.

Primarily used in legal contexts when formally ordering someone to appear in a court of law.

• The court decided to issue a summons to the witness.
• He ignored the issued summons and faced additional charges.

Used when referring to a source of information or quoting someone in academic, legal, or official contexts.

• You need to cite your sources properly in your research paper
• The lawyer cited previous court rulings to support his argument

Used when referring to an actual excerpt from a text or speech, often in literary or formal contexts.

• The essay includes a well-known quotation from Shakespeare
• The book starts with a famous quotation that sets the theme

Used when mentioning or alluding to a source of information or providing background information, often in academic or professional contexts.

• The report has a detailed list of references at the end
• She made a reference to several studies to support her claims