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Definitions

reference

[ref-er-uhns, ref-ruhns] / ˈrɛf ər əns, ˈrɛf rəns /


NOUN
testimonial of good character
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONGEST


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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San Francisco public health officials said the Script botanicals x Maui labs product packaging did not make a reference to kratom or 7-OH; however, neither were associated with the overdose death.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

The following weekend, almost 200 miles west, a middle-aged man stood near the stage at the start of another El-Sayed appearance and shouted a reference to the Quran and Bible.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Ferguson makes reference to the report and said that "when you look at what happened, bereaved families and other families during the pandemic, guidance completely failed us during the pandemic".

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

In the wireless business, AT&T reported 379,000 postpaid phone net additions, a reference to subscribers who pay for phone service at the end of a billing period instead of upfront.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

The neurons of Bobby’s brain seemed to absorb the limitations and possibilities of each piece in any given position, storing them for future reference.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

The latter cocktail references a scene in the Raiders’ locker room: One of Ilya’s teammates sees him secretly texting Shane.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

She looked down and read nervously from a script, took just three questions and embarrassingly mixed up references to “her husband” and “her president.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

The ex-Liverpool full-back joined with glowing references from Madrid president Florentino Perez and returning head coach Jose Mourinho, who he played for during his time with the Spanish club.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

A lawyer for the firm described the document as a “confidential work product” with information that had been “obtained through confidential references during Korn Ferry’s candidate search.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

He's a regular peppermint stick now, all sugar-crystal and saccharine when he isn't making veiled references to certain commercial products that every worshipper absolutely needs.”

From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

Sridhar referenced a comment made by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, that every quarter delay in a gigawatt data center translates to $10 billion of missed revenue.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

Before her narrow loss, Hong referenced a since-deleted Wedgewood poll in a fundraising pitch to argue that her campaign had “momentum.”

From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2026

She also referenced the chorus of criticism that many homes along California's coast belong to the wealthy or are second homes, and that they never should've been built on such a vulnerable landscape.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

A rabbi referenced the runway overhaul in a recent sermon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The italicized language in the description of the referenced exchange is paraphrased, not directly quoted.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

"Specific dates and locations could be discussed through Panmunjom," said Kim, referencing the symbolic truce village where troops from both Koreas stand face-to-face.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

“It’s a Tilt-A-Whirl, you’re getting whipped around,” Farley said during an interview with MarketWatch, referencing a popular carnival ride.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

The lesson Holmes is referencing is the couple’s big relationship reveal, which happened while they were both anchors on “GMA3” and married to other people.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

When Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ludicrously urged Americans to dress up for travel, he was referencing this imaginary age of girdles and silk-stockinged women dolled up like Veronica Lake.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

My first sighting is in a news story referencing the Dark Days.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins


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