Queue Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Published on March 9, 2024
A queue is a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed. e.g., There was a long queue at the coffee shop this morning.
Table of Contents
Queue Definitions
Organizing tasks in priority order for execution.
The software automatically queues tasks based on urgency.
A lineup of events or activities to be attended.
There's a queue of events happening in the city this weekend.
A list of music tracks to be played in order.
I added my favorite songs to the music player's queue.
A series of commands or jobs to be executed by a computer.
The system administrator cleared the job queue overnight.
To place oneself in line for an upcoming turn.
She queued at dawn to ensure she got the best seats.
A line of people waiting for service or entry.
The queue outside the movie theater stretched around the block.
A sequence of data or tasks waiting to be processed.
The printer's queue is full of documents that need to be printed.
To arrange or line up in a sequence.
The students queued up quietly for lunch.
Waiting in line as part of a group.
We queued for hours to get tickets to the concert.
A sequence of messages or requests in a communication system.
The customer service hotline had a queue of calls waiting.
A line of waiting people or vehicles.
A sequence of stored data or programs awaiting processing.
A data structure from which the first item that can be retrieved is the one stored earliest.
To get in line
Queue up at the box office.
To place in a sequence
Queued the queries in order of relevance.
A line of people, vehicles or other objects, in which one at the front end is dealt with first, the one behind is dealt with next, and so on, and which newcomers join at the opposite end (the back).
A waiting list or other means of organizing people or objects into a first-come-first-served order.
(intransitive) To put oneself or itself at the end of a waiting line.
(intransitive) To arrange themselves into a physical waiting queue.
To add to a queue data structure.
To fasten, as hair, in a queue.
A line of people or vehicles waiting for something
(information processing) an ordered list of tasks to be performed or messages to be transmitted
Form a queue, form a line, stand in line;
Customers lined up in front of the store
Queue Snonyms
Line
A row of people or things arranged one behind another.
We stood in line for hours to get tickets.
Sequence
A particular order in which related things follow each other.
The sequence of events was confusing.
Series
A number of things, events, or people of a similar kind or related nature coming one after another.
The lecture is part of a series on modern art.
Chain
A connected series of things or people.
The chain of command in the military is important for operations.
Column
A vertical division of a page or text.
The figures were listed in a column.
Row
A number of people or things in a more or less straight line.
The students sat in a row at the back of the classroom.
Order
The arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other according to a particular sequence, pattern, or method.
The books were arranged in alphabetical order.
List
A number of connected items or names written or printed consecutively, typically one below the other.
She checked off each item on her shopping list.
Stream
A continuous flow of people or things.
A steady stream of visitors entered the museum.
Procession
A number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion, especially as part of a ceremony or festival.
The wedding procession moved slowly down the aisle.
Queue Idioms & Phrases
Queue's end insight
An indication that a long wait or process is finally nearing completion.
After months of hard work, the queue's end is in sight for the project team.
Adding to the queue
Contributing to a backlog or increasing the number of tasks to be done.
Every new email feels like adding to the queue of endless work.
Queue jumper's reward
The advantage or benefit gained from bypassing others unfairly.
The queue jumper's reward was short-lived when the manager saw him.
To have one's queue cut
To lose one's place or turn unfairly.
Feeling his queue was cut by the new policy, he voiced his concerns.
First in the queue
To be the first in line for an opportunity or resource.
By arriving early, she was first in the queue for tickets.
Back of the queue
To be last or at the lowest priority.
Without the necessary qualifications, your application may end up at the back of the queue.
Queue up
To line up or form a queue.
Everyone began to queue up as the store opened.
Queue and A
A session of waiting followed by an opportunity to ask questions or engage in discussion.
After a long queue, the audience enjoyed a lively Q and A with the author.
Queue of the times
A situation or trend that has become common or expected in the current era.
Virtual queues for online sales events are the queue of the times.
End of the queue
Last in priority or consideration.
With my late application, I was at the end of the queue for housing.
Queue length
The number of people or items in a queue.
The queue length at the ticket booth was daunting.
A queue within a queue
Facing multiple layers of waiting or obstacles.
Navigating the bureaucracy felt like moving from a queue within a queue.
Out of the queue
No longer waiting or considered.
Once you miss your call, you're out of the queue.
Take one's place in the queue
To assume a position in line.
She took her place in the queue, eager for her turn.
Queue management
Organizing and controlling queues to improve wait times and service.
Effective queue management is crucial for customer satisfaction.
Drop out of the queue
To leave the line before being served.
After waiting for an hour, several people dropped out of the queue.
Front of the queue
The first position in a waiting line.
Early arrival ensured her place at the front of the queue.
Queue time
The duration of waiting in line.
The queue time for the concert tickets was over two hours.
Stand in someone's queue
To wait for an opportunity to interact with or gain favor from someone.
Many startups stand in the investor's queue, hoping for funding.
Queueing theory
The mathematical study of waiting lines or queues.
Queueing theory helps optimize the checkout process in supermarkets.
Queue jumpers
People who skip ahead in line without waiting their turn.
Queue jumpers are often called out for their unfair behavior.
In the queue
Waiting in line or scheduled for attention.
Your application is in the queue for review.
Queue system
The method or process of managing lines of people or items.
The new queue system at the airport made check-in much smoother.
Break the queue
To disrupt the order of the queue, causing confusion.
Confusion ensued when someone tried to break the queue.
Queue politely
To wait in line in a courteous and orderly manner.
Despite the long wait, everyone queued politely.
Skip the queue
Similar to jumping the queue, but may imply a legitimate fast-track option.
VIP tickets allow you to skip the queue.
Queue for Britain
A British idiom indicating a long wait or patience.
We really had to queue for Britain at the embassy.
Jump the queue
To bypass others who have been waiting in line.
It's rude to jump the queue when others have been waiting patiently.
Cut in the queue
To enter the line at any point other than the end, usually without permission.
People were frustrated when he tried to cut in the queue.
Queue Example Sentences
He checked the print queue to see if his document was ready.
Everyone in the queue was eager for the store to open.
They had to queue for an hour to see the exhibit.
The bus queue moved slowly in the morning rush.
I added several movies to my streaming queue for the weekend.
Our support team is working through a large queue of requests.
The queue for the roller coaster wrapped around the park.
Airport security queues can be long during peak travel seasons.
The queue at the bakery is worth it for their fresh bread.
To join the queue, please take a number from the dispenser.
The ticket queue was longer than we expected.
She prefers to queue digitally for tickets to avoid the crowd.
I joined the queue at the last minute and still got in.
The bus queue stretched around the corner.
Our tickets are in the queue to be processed.
There's a separate queue for ticket holders.
The queue for the new iPhone release was massive.
The queue diminished quickly once the doors opened.
They asked us to join the back of the queue.
The queue outside the bakery was incredibly long this morning.
We spent an hour in the queue, chatting and laughing.
She kept her place in the queue while I went to look around.
He managed to clear the download queue by the end of the day.
The queue for the roller coaster was worth the wait.
Please form a queue at the counter.
The online payment system had a queue due to high traffic.
He left the queue to grab a snack.
I accidentally cut in front of someone in the queue.
The queue moved faster than I expected.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called queue?
It's called "queue" from the French word "queue," meaning tail, referring to a line's resemblance to a tail.
What is a stressed syllable in queue?
In "queue," the stressed syllable is "queue."
How many syllables are in queue?
Queue has one syllable.
How do we divide queue into syllables?
Queue is divided into syllables as: queue.
What is the singular form of queue?
The singular form of queue is "queue."
Which determiner is used with queue?
Determiners like "the," "a," or "this" can be used with "queue."
What is the root word of queue?
The root word of "queue" is the French "queue," meaning tail.
Is queue a collective noun?
Yes, queue can be considered a collective noun as it refers to a group of people or things in line.
How is queue used in a sentence?
Queue is used to denote a line of waiting people or tasks, e.g., Please join the queue at the cashier.
What is another term for queue?
Another term for queue is "line."
Which conjunction is used with queue?
Conjunctions like "and" or "or" can be used when discussing multiple queues.
What part of speech is queue?
Queue can be both a noun and a verb.
Is the queue term a metaphor?
Yes, "queue" can be used metaphorically to represent a sequence or order in various contexts.
What is the plural form of queue?
The plural form of queue is "queues."
What is the opposite of queue?
The opposite of a queue (as a concept of waiting in line) could be "immediate service" or "no wait."
Is queue a noun or adjective?
Queue is primarily a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
Which vowel is used before queue?
The vowel sound used before "queue" is /yoo/.
Which preposition is used with queue?
Prepositions like "in," "at," "for," and "to" are commonly used with "queue."
Which article is used with queue?
Both "the" (definite article) and "a" (indefinite article) can be used with "queue," depending on the context.
What is the verb form of queue?
The verb form of queue is "queue," used as in queuing or to queue.
What is the pronunciation of queue?
Queue is pronounced as /kyoo/.
Is queue an abstract noun?
No, queue is not an abstract noun; it refers to a concrete line or sequence.
Is queue a vowel or consonant?
The word "queue" starts with a vowel sound.
Is the word queue imperative?
"Queue" can be used in an imperative form, as in instructions or commands to line up.
Is the word queue Gerund?
Yes, when used as -ing form (queuing), it acts as a gerund.
Is queue an adverb?
No, queue is not an adverb.
Is queue a negative or positive word?
Queue is neutral; its positive or negative connotation depends on the context.
Is queue a countable noun?
Yes, queue is a countable noun.
Is the word “queue” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In sentences where "queue" is acted upon, it can serve as a direct object.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
