quote
Americanverb (used with object)
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to repeat (a passage, phrase, etc.) from a book, speech, or the like, as by way of authority, illustration, etc.
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to repeat words from (a book, author, etc.).
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to use a brief excerpt from.
The composer quotes Beethoven's Fifth in his latest work.
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to cite, offer, or bring forward as evidence or support.
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to enclose (words) within quotation marks.
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Commerce.
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to state (a price).
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to state the current price of.
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verb (used without object)
noun
idioms
verb
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to recite a quotation (from a book, play, poem, etc), esp as a means of illustrating or supporting a statement
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(tr) to put quotation marks round (a word, phrase, etc)
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stock exchange to state (a current market price) of (a security or commodity)
noun
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an informal word for quotation quotation quotation quotation
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(often plural) an informal word for quotation mark
put it in quotes
interjection
Usage
What is a basic definition of quote? Quote means to repeat the exact words of a speaker or an author. A quote is also a passage or statement repeated in this way. Quote means to cite something as a form of proof. Quote has several other senses as a verb and a noun.To quote something or someone is to repeat the exact words they said or to recite the exact words written in a book.Real-life examples: Great speakers often quote other inspiring people when making speeches. Newspapers will often quote the people they interviewed to show the reader they aren’t making things up or paraphrasing. Religious leaders will often quote the words written in a holy book when giving sermons.Used in a sentence: The speaker quoted poet John Donne when she said, “No man is an island.” In this sense, quote is a phrase, statement, or written passage that another person repeats exactly.Real-life examples: The news will report quotes of politicians, economists, scientists, and other important people. Many popular sayings and phrases are quotes.Used in a sentence: “A house divided against itself cannot stand” is a famous Abraham Lincoln quote.Quote also means to offer something as evidence or supporting facts.Real-life examples: Lawyers and judges will often quote earlier court cases when making arguments. Religious leaders or followers will frequently quote religious texts when explaining what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.Used in a sentence: The attorney quoted the earlier legal decision when she argued that the new law was unjust.
Other Word Forms
- outquote verb (used with object)
- prequote verb (used with object)
- quoter noun
- requote verb (used with object)
- superquote verb
- unquoted adjective
Etymology
Origin of quote
First recorded in 1350–1400; 1880–85 quote for def. 9; Middle English coten, quoten, from Old French coter, from Medieval Latin quotāre “to divide into chapters and verses,” derivative of Latin quot “how many”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A series of reports in Israeli and US media, quoting unnamed officials, spoke of convincing evidence he was dead.
From BBC
Local media quoted officials as saying that food and fuel supplies were covered and that subway and bus services would continue operating as usual.
From Barron's
Outside, Patrick Martinez welcomes guests with neon quotes supporting immigrant rights.
From Los Angeles Times
"I just heard an enormous bang," said 27-year-old Anna, who was in an office nearby, quoted by AFP.
From BBC
“Honestly, I’d bet within a few days no one is even quoting it,” one Republican member of Congress told me.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
