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definitions

defer

1
[ dih-fur ]
/ dɪˈfɜr /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR defer ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), de·ferred, de·fer·ring.

to put off (action, consideration, etc.) to a future time: The decision has been deferred by the board until next week.
to exempt temporarily from induction into military service.

verb (used without object), de·ferred, de·fer·ring.

to put off action; delay.

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RELATED WORDS

suspend, extend, prolong, waive, delay, stall, shelve, adjourn, postpone, admit, adjust, agree, submit, bow, hinder, retard, slow, lengthen, remit, detain

Nearby words

  1. defensive back,
  2. defensive circle,
  3. defensive driving,
  4. defensive medicine,
  5. defensively,
  6. deference,
  7. deferent,
  8. deferent duct,
  9. deferentectomy,
  10. deferential

Origin of defer

1
1325–75; Middle English deferren, variant of differren to differ
Related formsde·fer·rer, noun

Synonym study

1. Defer, delay, postpone imply keeping something from occurring until a future time. To defer is to decide to do something later on: to defer making a payment. To delay is sometimes equivalent to defer, but usually it is to act in a dilatory manner and thus lay something aside: to delay one's departure. To postpone a thing is to put it off to (usually) some particular time in the future, with the intention of beginning or resuming it then: to postpone an election. 3. procrastinate.

Definition for defer (2 of 2)

defer

2
[ dih-fur ]
/ dɪˈfɜr /

verb (used without object), de·ferred, de·fer·ring.

to yield respectfully in judgment or opinion (usually followed by to): We all defer to him in these matters.

verb (used with object), de·ferred, de·fer·ring.

to submit for decision; refer: We defer questions of this kind to the president.

Origin of defer

2
1400–50; late Middle English deferren < Latin dēferre to carry from or down, report, accuse, equivalent to dē- de- + ferre to bear1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for defer

British Dictionary definitions for defer (1 of 2)

defer

1
/ (dɪˈfɜː) /

verb -fers, -ferring or -ferred

(tr) to delay or cause to be delayed until a future time; postpone
Derived Formsdeferrable or deferable, adjectivedeferrer, noun

Word Origin for defer

C14: from Old French differer to be different, postpone; see differ

British Dictionary definitions for defer (2 of 2)

defer

2
/ (dɪˈfɜː) /

verb -fers, -ferring or -ferred

(intr foll by to) to yield (to) or comply (with) the wishes or judgments of anotherI defer to your superior knowledge

Word Origin for defer

C15: from Latin dēferre, literally: to bear down, from de- + ferre to bear
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012