Lineup vs. Queue — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 28, 2023
Lineup refers to a group arranged in a row, often for identification or selection, while Queue denotes an ordered line of people or things waiting for their turn.
Difference Between Lineup and Queue
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Lineup and Queue are both related to arrangements of people or things. However, their context and meaning differ. A Lineup often refers to a row of individuals or items placed next to each other, commonly for identification purposes. For instance, police might use a lineup to have witnesses identify a suspect. On the other hand, a Queue usually refers to people or items arranged in a line awaiting their turn, primarily seen at checkout counters or bus stops.
While a Lineup emphasizes positioning for display, recognition, or comparison, a Queue emphasizes orderly waiting. People might stand in a lineup to be viewed or chosen for a team, like in sports, but they'd stand in a queue to buy tickets for a game.
The concept of Lineup also extends beyond just people. In broadcasting, the term can refer to a sequence of shows or programs scheduled to air. Queue, while often associated with people, can also pertain to tasks, especially in computing, where tasks wait in a queue to be processed.
In everyday American English, people might colloquially refer to a queue as a "line." However, it's essential to differentiate from a lineup. If someone says they're in a "line" at a grocery store, they're in a queue. But if they're part of a "lineup" for a local baseball game, they're one of the players chosen to play.
Comparison Chart
Primary Context
Identification or selection
Orderly waiting
ADVERTISEMENT
Emphasis
Positioning for display or comparison
Waiting for one's turn
Common Situations
Police identifications, sports teams
Checkout counters, bus stops
Extension of Concept
Sequence of shows in broadcasting
Tasks in computing waiting for processing
Colloquial Usage
Part of a selection or display
Often referred to as a "line" in American English
Compare with Definitions
Lineup
The roster of players in a sports event.
Tonight's lineup for the basketball game looks promising.
Queue
A list of tasks waiting for processing, especially in computing.
The printer has a queue of ten jobs.
Lineup
A formation or sequence of objects or elements.
The photographer arranged a lineup of different flowers for the shoot.
Queue
A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.
Lineup
An arrangement of different items, often products or services.
The car manufacturer showcased its new lineup of electric vehicles.
Queue
A list of data items, commands, etc., stored so as to be retrievable in a definite order, usually the order of insertion.
Lineup
A schedule or sequence of programs or events.
The television network announced its fall lineup.
Queue
A plait of hair worn at the back.
Lineup
A row of individuals arranged for identification or selection.
The police presented a lineup of suspects for the witness.
Queue
Take one's place in a queue
In the war they had queued for food
Lineup
An array or sequential display of persons or photographs of persons presented to a complainant or potential witness for the purpose of identifying a suspect in a crime.
Queue
Arrange in a queue
Input or output requests to a file are queued by the operating system
Lineup
(Sports) The members of a team chosen to start a game.
Queue
A line of waiting people or vehicles.
Lineup
A sequence of broadcasts or events for public entertainment
A TV network's prime-time lineup.
Queue
A sequence of stored data or programs awaiting processing.
Lineup
A physical or photographic queue of people allegedly involved in a crime, allowing a witness to identify them
Queue
A data structure from which the first item that can be retrieved is the one stored earliest.
Lineup
(Canada) A line of people or vehicles, in which the individual at the front end is dealt with first, the one behind is dealt with next, and so on, and in which newcomers join at the end; a queue.
Queue
A long braid of hair worn hanging down the back of the neck; a pigtail.
Lineup
(sports) Collectively, the members of a team.
The manager fielded his strongest lineup for the game against United.
Queue
To get in line
Queue up at the box office.
Lineup
(baseball) The batting order.
Queue
To place in a sequence
Queued the queries in order of relevance.
Lineup
(music) The members of a music group at any one time.
Queue
To braid or twist (hair) into a queue.
Lineup
(music) The acts performing at a concert or music festival.
Queue
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).
Lineup
(baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat;
The managers presented their cards to the umpire at home plate
Queue
A waiting list or other means of organizing people or objects into a first-come-first-served order.
Lineup
A line of persons arranged by police for inspection or identification
Queue
(computing) A data structure in which objects are added to one end, called the tail, and removed from the other, called the head (in the case of a FIFO queue). The term can also refer to a LIFO queue or stack where these ends coincide.
Queue
(heraldry) An animal's tail.
Queue
A men's hairstyle with a braid or ponytail at the back of the head, such as that worn by men in Imperial China.
Queue
(intransitive) To put oneself or itself at the end of a waiting line.
Queue
(intransitive) To arrange themselves into a physical waiting queue.
Queue
To add to a queue data structure.
Queue
To fasten the hair into a queue.
Queue
A tail-like appendage of hair; a pigtail.
Queue
To fasten, as hair, in a queue.
Queue
A line of people or vehicles waiting for something
Queue
(information processing) an ordered list of tasks to be performed or messages to be transmitted
Queue
A braid of hair at the back of the head
Queue
Form a queue, form a line, stand in line;
Customers lined up in front of the store
Queue
An ordered line of people or things awaiting their turn.
There's a long queue at the ticket booth.
Queue
A braid of hair worn at the back.
The soldier had a queue as was the fashion in the 18th century.
Queue
To arrange or line up in order.
People started to queue up for the movie premiere.
Queue
A sequence of music tracks awaiting playback.
I added my favorite songs to the music queue.
Common Curiosities
Is waiting in a "line" at the supermarket a "Lineup" or "Queue"?
It's a Queue, but colloquially referred to as a "line" in American English.
How is "Lineup" used in the context of broadcasting?
In broadcasting, Lineup can refer to a sequence of shows or programs scheduled to air.
What is a primary context for "Lineup"?
Lineup often refers to a row of individuals or items for identification or selection.
Can "Queue" refer to things other than people?
Yes, Queue can refer to tasks, especially in computing, awaiting processing.
What does a "Lineup" emphasize?
Lineup emphasizes positioning for display, recognition, or comparison.
Is a "Lineup" always related to people?
No, Lineup can also refer to items, products, events, or shows.
How is "Queue" used in the context of computing?
In computing, a Queue can refer to a list of tasks waiting for processing.
Can "Lineup" refer to products by a company?
Yes, Lineup can refer to an arrangement of different products or services by a company.
What does "Queue" emphasize?
Queue emphasizes orderly waiting or tasks awaiting their turn.
Where might you commonly encounter a "Queue"?
Common places for a Queue include checkout counters, bus stops, or ticket booths.
Can "Lineup" refer to a sequence of events or shows?
Yes, Lineup can refer to a schedule or sequence of programs or events.
Can the word "Queue" also be a verb?
Yes, "Queue" can be a verb meaning to arrange or line up in order.
Can "Lineup" relate to sports?
Yes, in sports, a Lineup refers to the roster of players chosen for a game or event.
What's a unique way the term "Queue" has been historically used?
Historically, a Queue referred to a braid of hair worn at the back.
Are the two terms "Lineup" and "Queue" synonymous?
No, while both relate to arrangements, their context and meaning differ.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Plait vs. Plat
Next Comparison
Conjurer vs. ConjurorAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
