Cue

Cue is a term with multiple meanings across different domains, all involving a signal or prompt. In everyday use, a cue signals someone to take action, such as a line of dialogue prompting an actor to begin speaking, a glance signaling a coworker, or a sound indicating that an event should start.

In psychology and behavioral science, cues are stimuli that elicit responses or influence behavior. Cues can predict outcomes in conditioning experiments, serve as cues to perform routines or seek rewards, and contribute to cravings or habits. Therapeutic approaches often address cue awareness or use controlled exposure to reduce unwanted responses.

In performing arts and media, a cue is a signal to perform a specific action. A theatre cue might trigger an actor’s entrance, a lighting change, or a sound effect. Stage managers and cue sheets coordinate timing, ensuring actions occur in the correct sequence and at the right moment.

In cue sports, the cue is the stick used to strike the balls in games such as billiards, pool, and snooker. The cue ball is the white ball that players strike with the cue. The term cue in this sense is distinct from its signaling use.

In broadcasting, film, and music, cues mark when a sound, video, or musical cue should begin. A cue sheet lists such cues for production, and cue notes guide performers, editors, and technicians through the sequence of events in a performance or edit.