queue

1.nounB1

Definition

a row formed by people or vehicles positioned one after another, each waiting for their chance to do something such as buy a ticket, board a train, or enter a building.

Example

A long queue of shoppers formed outside the department store before it opened.

queue of + people group

Rohan joined the queue at the ticket counter twenty minutes before the film started.

join the queue + for a purpose

Common collocations

long queue
short queue
join a queue
stand in a queue
queue of people
queue for tickets

Synonyms

line
the standard American English term for a queue of people or vehicles
row
emphasises people or things arranged side by side, not one behind another
waiting list
an ordered list of people wanting a service, not a physical line

Grammar Patterns

queue of + people/vehicles

the queue for + noun

in a queue

Usage Note

Queue is the standard term in British English; American English uses line instead for people waiting. The computing sense (sense 2) is used in all varieties.

Common Mistakes

I stood in the queue line for ages.

I stood in the queue for ages.

'queue' already means a line; 'queue line' is redundant.

There was a queue of waiting people.

There was a queue of people.

Adding 'waiting' is unnecessary because queuing implies waiting.

2.nounB2

Definition

a structured list of data items, tasks, or messages stored in a computer system, where each new item is added at the back and items are taken from the front for processing.

Example

The printer queue had twelve documents waiting to be printed.

printer queue — common collocation

The rendering software added each new frame to the back of the video-processing queue.

added to the back of the queue — FIFO order

Common collocations

print queue
data queue
message queue
processing queue
add to the queue
clear the queue
next in the queue

Synonyms

list
a more general term; not all lists follow first-in-first-out order like a queue does
buffer
a temporary storage area that may or may not use queue ordering
stack
a data structure where the last item added is processed first (LIFO), opposite of a queue

Grammar Patterns

the + noun + queue

in a queue

add to the queue

Usage Note

In computing, queue follows FIFO (first in, first out) order. Distinguish from stack (noun sense 2 in computing), where the last item added is processed first.

Common Mistakes

I cleared the queue by deleting items from the middle.

I cleared the queue by processing items from the front.

A queue processes items from the front only; deleting from the middle breaks the data structure.

Idioms

jump the queue

idiom

To move ahead of others who are waiting in a line instead of waiting for your proper turn.

Maya was angry when a man tried to jump the queue at the supermarket.

Did you see that woman jump the queue at the bus stop this morning?

1.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

to stand or sit with others who are ahead of and behind you, each taking a turn in order, typically to buy something, go into a place, or receive a service.

Example

We had to queue for nearly an hour to get into the art exhibition.

queue for + duration + to-infinitive

Film fans queued outside the cinema from early morning hoping to get tickets.

queue + place + purpose clause — typical real-world use

Common collocations

queue for tickets
queue outside
queue patiently
queue up
queue at the door

Synonyms

line up
more common in American English; often suggests an intentional arrangement rather than a passive wait
wait in line
the standard American English equivalent, emphasising the act of waiting
form a queue
describes the moment when people begin to arrange themselves in a line

Grammar Patterns

queue for + noun

queue to + infinitive

queue up

be queuing

Usage Note

Queue as a verb is most common in British English. American English typically uses line up or stand in line. The -ing form queuing (or queueing) is used in continuous tenses.

Common Mistakes

I queued the line for tickets.

I queued for tickets.' or 'I stood in line for tickets.

'Queue' already means to wait in a line; adding 'the line' is redundant.

He queued me at the door.

He queued at the door.

Queue is intransitive; it does not take a direct object in this sense.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to feel a strong desire to do something or to get a chance, especially when many people want the same opportunity.

Example

Many young designers are queuing to show their work at the fashion festival.

be queuing to + infinitive — expressing eagerness

Aylin is queuing to speak with the manager about the new internship position.

Common collocations

be queuing to do
be queuing up to
queue for a chance

Synonyms

be eager to
covers individual desire without the crowd implication
be lining up to
the American English equivalent; also suggests competition for a chance
be queuing up to
emphasises the competitive eagerness even more strongly

Grammar Patterns

be queuing to + infinitive

be queuing up to + infinitive

be queuing for + noun

Usage Note

This sense is always used to describe a situation where multiple people or groups are competing for an opportunity. It is rarely used in the simple present (e.g. 'he queues to do it') — the progressive (is queuing / are queuing) is strongly preferred.

Common Mistakes

I queue to try the new restaurant.

Everyone is queuing to try the new restaurant.

This sense implies many people, not a single person's desire.

3.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to put pieces of data, tasks, or files into a series so that a computer or digital system can deal with them one after another in the order they were added.

Example

The server queued all the PDF invoices for printing after the network came back online.

queue + noun + for + purpose — typical IT scenario

Andrew queued the video files before starting the rendering process on his computer.

Common collocations

queue files
queue jobs
queue documents
queue up
queue for printing
queue for processing

Synonyms

schedule
broader term; sets a time for processing rather than ordering items in a list
line up
used informally (e.g. 'line up the songs'), but less precise in computing contexts
enqueue
the precise technical term in computer science for adding an item to a queue

Antonyms

dequeue
to remove an item from the front of a queue for processing

Grammar Patterns

queue + noun

queue up + noun

have + noun + queued

Usage Note

Often used with the particle up: queue up documents, queue up episodes. This sense can also appear in the passive: 'The files were queued for printing.'

Common Mistakes

I queued to the printer.

I queued the documents for printing.

This sense takes a direct object (what is being arranged), not a destination.

Phrasal verbs

queue up

phrasal verb

to form or join a line of people waiting for something; also used figuratively to mean many people are eager for the same thing.

Fans queued up outside the theatre from early morning to see the famous actor arrive.

Young musicians queued up to perform at the annual talent showcase held in the city centre.

Word family

queuing
nounB2
queued
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Queue (British English) and line (American English) both describe people or vehicles arranged one behind another awaiting a turn. Queue emphasises the orderly sequence and the act of waiting itself, while line is a broader term that can also describe a row of objects not necessarily waiting (e.g. 'a line of trees'). A row typically describes items placed side by side rather than one behind another — people sitting in a cinema are in a row, not a queue. A waiting list is not a physical line but an ordered record of people who want a service or spot, such as a school place or a doctor's appointment. For example: 'The queue for the concert stretched around the block' (physical line), 'I was put on a waiting list for the surgery' (ordered record), and 'We sat in the front row of the theatre' (side-by-side seating).

queuelinerowwaiting list

Common collocations

Nouns

ticket
bus
cinema
shop
restaurant
print
data
task
message

Adverbs

patiently
quietly
impatiently
patiently
endlessly

Phrases

in a queue
form a queue
join the queue
queue of people
queue for tickets

Prepositions

in
for
at
of
outside

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Queue entered English from French in the 16th century, where it originally meant 'tail'. The French word itself comes from Latin 'cauda', also meaning 'tail'. The sense of a line of waiting people appeared in the early 19th century, based on the image of people forming a tail-like line. The computing sense emerged in the mid-20th century as data processing borrowed the waiting-line metaphor.

Entries near

Previous entries

Next entries

queue

queue — noun

1. a row formed by people or vehicles positioned one after another, each waiting fo

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a structured list of data items, tasks, or messages stored in a computer system,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

jump the queue

queue — verb

1. to stand or sit with others who are ahead of and behind you, each taking a turn

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to feel a strong desire to do something or to get a chance, especially when many

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to put pieces of data, tasks, or files into a series so that a computer or digit

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

queue up

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near