Synonyms for

References

Verb / ˈrefɜ:ʌnsɪz / / ˈrefrʌnsɪz / Another word for references — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

References are sources of information that are used to support or prove something.

Synonyms & similar words

cite mention acknowledgment source referencepoint quotation address extension credit consultation reference pointofreference referencebook referencework citation denotation characterreference bookoffacts computeraddress character sources citations footnotes bibliography index allusions testimonies witnesses mentions quotations notes records data facts figures statistics evidence proof validation

Synonyms by register

Formal

citations allusions mentions acknowledgments

Informal

shout-outs props nods mentions

Literary

allusions echoes whispers

Antonyms

ignorance omission neglect disregard avoidance forgetfulness

Common collocations

  • make references
  • provide references
  • in reference to
  • without reference to
  • further references
  • cross references
  • direct reference
  • indirect reference

Word family

noun reference
verb refer
adjective referential

Usage note

The word 'references' can refer to sources cited in a work or to people who can attest to one's character. Ensure context clarifies the intended meaning.

Example sentences

  1. I included references at the end of my paper.
  2. The teacher asked us to use at least three references in our research.
  3. The book had a lot of references to historical events.
  4. The lawyer cited a reference to support his argument.
  5. I found a reference to the answer in the textbook.

Quotes

  • Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. They are engines of change, windows on the world, lighthouses erected in the sea of time. - Barbara Tuchman
  • A great library contains the diary of the human race. - George Mercer Dawson
  • A reference library is like an umbrella. It spreads knowledge over a lifetime. - Anonymous

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