queue, cue

On this page

• Definition of the word “queue”
  • “Queue” as a noun
  • “Queue” as a verb
• Definition of the word “cue”
  • “Cue” as a noun
  • “Cue” as a verb
  • Expressions containing the word “cue”
• Additional information

Definition of the word “queue”

The word queue can be used as a noun or a verb.

“Queue” as a noun

The noun queue has two primary meanings.

Queue can refer to a series of telephone calls, documents, or computer commands waiting to be processed or attended to.

• When everyone in the office sends jobs to the printer, the document queue gets very long.
• Calls that can’t be answered right away are placed in a queue.

Queue can also refer to a lineup, usually composed of people or vehicles. This meaning is chiefly British.

• The Air Canada reservations agent sighed as she looked at the long queue.
• The queue at the drive-through window is usually quite long at noon.

“Queue” as a verb

The verb forms include queue, queued and queuing (or queueing).

• That computer network handles a lot of traffic. It needs a system to queue messages.
• The tourists were impressed by the way Londoners queued for buses.

The verb form can also be used with the word up.

• The phone system was still queuing up calls even though the operator was free.
• John queued up for hours to get his hands on the tickets.

Definition of the word “cue”

The word cue can be used as a noun or a verb.

“Cue” as a noun

In theatre, film and broadcasting, the noun cue refers to a signal to begin.

• When André missed his cue, the other actors had to improvise.
• The producer gave the news anchor her cue to start the report.

Similarly, in a general context, the noun cue refers to a hint, a signal or an indication.

• His growling stomach was his cue to go for lunch.
• The server mopping the floor was our cue to leave the restaurant.
• Non-verbal cues are an important part of communication.

“Cue” as a verb

The verb forms include cue, cued and cuing (or cueing).

• Once the toasts were completed, the host cued the band to begin playing.
• Cue the next speaker when it’s their turn to step up to the podium.

The verb form is commonly combined with the word up to form the phrasal verb cue up, which refers to having a video, recording or piece of music ready to be played at a specific time.

• The reporter has almost finished her story. Cue up the commercials.
• Cue up the video so it starts at the right place.

Expressions containing the word “cue”

on cue, as if on cue, right on cue

If something occurs on cue, as if on cue or right on cue, it means it happens just at the appropriate or expected moment, or as if it were planned.

• We had just been talking about Nina when, right on cue, she knocked at the door.
• After a long day, I was so relieved to finally sit down when, as if on cue, the phone started ringing again.

take a cue from, take one’s cue from

Take a cue from or take one’s cue from is to follow someone or something’s example or be influenced by someone or something.

• You should get more rest: take a cue from your brother and go to bed early!
• She took her cue from the audience’s cheers and went back on stage for an encore.

Additional information

• homographs, homonyms, homophones