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Quote tweet

A quote tweet is a repost of another user's post with your own added commentary displayed above the embedded original, letting you react, agree, or argue while carrying the source along for context.

Built and maintained by , founder of Liftli · last reviewed July 2026

A quote tweet differs from a plain repost, which forwards a post untouched, and from a reply, which sits under the original where fewer people see it. The quote lands on your own timeline as a new post with the source embedded, so your commentary reaches your followers with the original attached. Because it is a fresh post, it earns its own replies, reposts, and ranking, which is why quoting can travel further than replying to the same thing.

That reach cuts both ways. Quote tweeting to pile on or mock someone, sometimes called dunking, can boost the original by feeding it engagement and can turn on you if the crowd sides with the person you quoted. The productive use is additive: quote something to extend it, correct it with evidence, or apply it to a case the author did not cover. You are borrowing an idea to say something of your own, not just pointing at it.

The practical tell of a good quote tweet is that it reads as a complete thought without the embed. If your commentary only makes sense as a reaction to the thing above it, it is probably better as a reply. If it stands on its own and the quoted post is a useful jumping-off point, the quote format is earning its place.

Frequently asked questions

what is the difference between a quote tweet and a retweet
A retweet, now called a repost, forwards someone's post to your followers untouched, with no words of your own. A quote tweet embeds that post inside a new post of yours and puts your commentary above it. The repost is pure amplification; the quote is amplification plus a take. Because a quote is a fresh post, it earns its own replies and reach rather than crediting the original.

is quote tweeting or replying better for reach
Quote tweeting usually reaches more people because it posts to your own timeline as a new object that your followers see, while a reply sits beneath the original where fewer people scroll. The tradeoff is that a quote also boosts the post you are quoting by feeding it engagement, so quoting to criticize can hand the original more reach than ignoring it would.

should you quote tweet to disagree with someone
You can, but do it to add something, not just to dunk. A quote that corrects with evidence or extends the idea reads as substance and stands on its own. A quote that only mocks feeds the original post engagement and can backfire if the crowd sides with the person you quoted. A quick check: if your words make sense without the embed, quote; if they only work as a reaction, reply instead.
Put it into practice

Hot Take Check — Pressure-test a spicy take before you post it. Open the free tool →

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