queue
KYOO
/kjuː/
A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed; or, to wait in a line.
More common in British English. In American English, 'line' is more frequently used for people waiting. It can also refer to a sequence of data or tasks awaiting processing.
The story behind the word. The word 'queue' comes directly from the French word 'queue', which means 'tail'. This imagery of a tail, a long appendage following behind, was adopted into English to describe a line of people waiting. It's a charming example of how a visual metaphor can cross languages and take on a new, specific meaning.
Word relationships
- line: More common in American English for people waiting.
- row: A straight line of objects or people, but not necessarily waiting.
Commonly confused with
- row: A 'queue' implies waiting for a turn; a 'row' is just a line of things or people without necessarily waiting.
Collocations
- long queue
- join the queue
- queue up
- in a queue
- checkout queue
Idioms & expressions
- queue up
Example sentences
- "There was a long queue at the checkout, so she decided to use the self-checkout." At a busy store.
- "We had to queue for over an hour to get tickets for the concert." Waiting for a service.
- "The customer service representative said my call was in a queue and would be answered shortly." In a digital context.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Q' with a long 'UEUE' of people behind it, like a long tail. Waiting line
When not to use
While 'queue' is understood in American English, 'line' is generally preferred for people waiting. 'Queue' is more common for abstract waiting lists (e.g., 'print queue').
Fun facts
- The British cultural adherence to 'queuing' (waiting patiently in line) is often seen as a national characteristic.
Related words
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