Confusing Words: Cue (verb) and Queue (noun/verb)
Meaning:
Cue (a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance.)
Queue (a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.)
Cue vs Queue Clarification:
Cue vs Queue – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
As I said above that cue and queue are two different words having same pronunciation but different meanings and function. Let us check out their definitions one by one.
Cue
Cue is used as a noun or a verb within a sentence. As a noun, it is used to refer to a signal that a person uses to tell another person to do something.
1. She thought that her friend’s smile would be her cue to leave the party.
2. The manager gave her a cue to come out on the stage for her performance.
As a noun, it can also used to refer to a straight wooden rod that is used in snooker or billiards to strike the ball.
1. You must strike the red ball with your awesome cue stick.
As a verb, it means to give a cue to someone.
1. You have to cue me at the right moment so that, I will be prepared for my speech.
2. They had not cued the performers.
In the context of the game, cue (as a verb) means to strike with the help of a cue.
1. He perfectly cued till the end of the game and won it.
Queue
Queue is used as a noun or a verb within a sentence. As a noun, it is used to refer to a line or a chain of people or things. People lined up especially for waiting for something. I should reach early at the mall otherwise; I will have to line up in a queue waiting anxiously for my turn.
1. I spent the whole Sunday in the queue for the ticket.
2. I appeal to both countries to relax the visa process. It is a must—it is important than opening rail tracks and air and bus links. (Amrit Sethi)
As a verb, queue means to line up or to make a chain in a queue.
1. The management asked everyone to, first, queue themselves and then demand the things.
2. Are not they going to queue up to buy tickets?
Check Out: Difference between Disc and Disk.
Did You Get the Difference?
So, it is clear from the above definition that cue and queue are two different words having same pronunciation but different meanings and functions. This is because of their pronunciation that makes everyone confused while writing.
Apart from this, the phrases ‘cue up’ and ‘queue up’ are both correct to use. You have to be careful about their different contexts. Remember their definitions and then use these phrases. Cue up means to position audio or video recordings to start playing. On the other hand, queue up means to line up to get something.
What Did You Learn?
Cue and queue are both used as a noun or a verb within a sentence.
Cue: It is used to refer to a signal or a wooden rod used in a game like snooker or billiard. As a verb, it means to give a cue or to strike with a cue.
Queue: is used to refer to a line of people or things whereas, as a verb, it means to line up in a queue.