Cite is a verb meaning to quote or reference something as evidence or authority. It also means to commend or summon someone to appear in court. In scholarly writing or legal contexts, you cite sources to support claims; in everyday use you might cite an example or precedent. The term emphasizes attribution and formal acknowledgment of information.
"- In your essay, please cite all sources to avoid plagiarism."
"- The prosecutor may cite prior convictions as part of the case."
"- She cited a passage from the constitution to support her argument."
"- The professor asked us to cite at least three credible references."
Cite comes from Middle English citation, derived from Old French citer (to summon, cite), from Latin citare (to summon, rouse, put in motion), from citus, past participle of citare (to stir up, summon). The Latin root cit-, citare means to summon, call forth; in classical Latin, citare was used for summoning a person to the court or assembly. In scholarly and legal English, it evolved to mean to quote or reference authoritative material as a source. The form cite (pronounced /saɪt/ in US/UK/AU) reflects the modern spelling with -ite ending indicating a verb of Latin origin, while the noun citation (nominally linked) kept the more explicit “citation.” First known use in English attested in the 14th century as a legal term meaning to summon to court, later broadening to refer to quoting authorities in writing by the 15th–16th centuries as humanist scholarship popularized the practice of citing sources. Over time, cite sharpened into everyday academic and legal vocabulary, retaining the sense of attribution and authoritative reference across domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cite" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cite" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cite"
-ite sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Cite is pronounced with a single syllable: /saɪt/. Start with a long “i” sound as in bite, then finish with a voiceless /t/. The mouth opens slightly for the diphthong /aɪ/, with the tongue rising from a low to high position, and the lips remain neutral/slightly spread. In careful speech you’ll notice a crisp release of the /t/ at the end. IPA: US/UK/AU /saɪt/. Audio tips: imagine saying “sigh” but end abruptly with a hard /t/.
Two common errors: (1) Pronouncing it as /siːt/ with a long /iː/ (like seat) due to confusion with similar spellings; ensure the diphthong is /aɪ/ not /iː/. (2) Dropping the final /t/ in rapid speech, saying /saɪ/ or /saɪd/. Focus on a clear, crisp /t/ release. Correction: practice /saɪt/ slowly, then add a firm alveolar stop release right at the end, and link to following words with a light touch of the /t/.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /saɪt/ vowel is stable, but rhoticity affects preceding context; however, cite itself is non-rhotic in most pronunciations, as the /r/ is not present. Vowel quality is similar in US and UK; Australian English often features a slightly higher tongue position and a less pronounced /ɪə/—not relevant here since /aɪ/ dominates. Stress remains on the only syllable. In careful speech no significant difference, but some Australian speakers might have a shorter /aɪ/ duration.
The challenge lies in the short, crisp /t/ final after a strong diphthong /aɪ/. Many learners mispronounce by elongating the vowel or kéo pronouncing /t/ as a stop without release. Also, learners may worry over linking in connected speech and accidentally add an extra vowel. Focus on maintaining a tight mouth shape after the /aɪ/ and a quick, clean alveolar /t/ release. IPA: /saɪt/.
No. Cite has a fully pronounced vowel and consonant: the /aɪ/ diphthong and the final /t/ are both present and audible. Unlike some English words with silent letters, cite maintains explicit vowel and consonant sounds, which helps learners align with spelling-to-sound mapping. Final /t/ is clearly pronounced in normal speech, though in rapid connected speech it may be lightly released.
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