1 B1 neutral
To prepare a piece of audio or video media to play from a particular point.
"Could you cue up that song for me before the guests arrive?"
separable
cue up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To prepare audio, video, or other media so it is ready to play from a specific point.
In plain English
To get a song, video, or recording ready so it starts playing at the right place.
What does "cue up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To prepare or arrange something in advance so it is ready to happen.
"She had three interviews cued up for the following morning."
separable
3 B2 neutral
To signal a performer or broadcast element to begin at the right moment.
"The sound engineer cued up the intro music exactly on time."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To bring a cue (start point) up to the right position so the media is ready.
Actually means
To get a song, video, or recording ready so it starts playing at the right place.
Usage tip
Originally used in radio and film production; now very common in everyday speech with streaming services, playlists, and digital media. 'Queue up' (British spelling/usage) is sometimes confused with this phrase but has a distinct meaning.
Words that pair with "cue up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
song video track playlist tape recording
How to conjugate "cue up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cue up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cues up
he/she/it
Past simple
cued up
yesterday
Past participle
cued up
have + pp
-ing form
cuing up
continuous
Hear "cue up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cue up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.