What does cueing mean?
Cueing is the present participle of the verb 'cue', meaning to give a signal that prompts someone to begin an action. Its most familiar home is theatre and broadcasting, where a stage manager might be cueing actors for their entrances or technicians for sound and lighting changes, but it extends into everyday conversation, where speakers subtly cue one another to take a turn, and into fields such as psychology and education, where visual or verbal cues guide behaviour and learning. A second, narrower sense belongs to cue sports: cueing describes striking a billiard or snooker ball with a cue stick. The word carries a neutral, practical connotation, suggesting coordination and timing rather than command. Spelling can trip people up: 'cueing' is standard in British English, while American usage often prefers 'cuing'; neither should be confused with 'queuing', which refers to waiting in a line. Mastering the distinction is genuinely useful for clear writing about signals, prompts, and timing.
verbThe present participle of the verb 'cue': to give a signal or prompt to someone to begin an action, such as speaking or entering, or in sports like billiards to strike the ball with a cue.
- To give a signal or prompt for someone to act, as in theatre, broadcasting, or conversation.
- In games such as billiards and snooker, to strike a ball with a cue.
"The stage manager was cueing the actors for their entrances during the live broadcast."
"The director was cueing the lighting changes throughout the performance."
"He spent the afternoon practising cueing the balls across the snooker table."
One letter separates waiting in line from telling an actor when to speak — which is why even professional editors mix up 'cueing' and 'queuing'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cueing
The word derives from 'cue', which appeared in English theatrical use in the mid-16th to early 17th century as the final word or phrase of one actor's speech serving as the signal for another to begin. Its origin is debated: a common account links it to the Latin 'quando' ('when'), traditionally said to be abbreviated 'Q.' in acting scripts to mark the moment to enter, though scholars regard this story as unverified, and some connect it instead to 'queue', from French for 'tail'. From its theatrical beginnings, 'cueing' spread into broadcasting, psychology, and everyday speech, where prompting and signalling remain its core senses.
Related word forms
How cueing is actually used
'Cueing' is the standard spelling in British English; American style guides often prefer 'cuing', though both are widely accepted. In psychology and education, the term appears in phrases like 'visual cueing' and is common in technical registers.
Easily confused with cueing
'Queuing' means waiting in a line (from 'queue'), whereas 'cueing' means giving a signal or prompt — they differ by one letter and are frequently mixed up.
'Cuing' is an accepted alternative spelling of the same word, more common in American usage; both are correct.