refer
to direct for information or anything required: He referred me to books on astrology.
to direct the attention or thoughts of: The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote.
to hand over or submit for information, consideration, treatment, assistance, decision, etc.: They were forced to refer the argument to arbitration.The doctor will decide whether to carry out blood tests in the office or to refer the patient to a hospital.
to recommend: My electrician went above and beyond, and I would definitely refer her to a friend.
to assign to a class, period, etc.; regard as belonging or related: Animals referred to the phylum Platyhelminthes are also known as flatworms due to their flattened bodies.
refer to,
to have recourse or resort to; turn to, as for aid or information: I can't remember the answer offhand, so I'll have to refer to my notes.
to mention; speak briefly of: The author referred to his teachers twice in the article.
to relate to; apply to; mean or denote: The term “contingency fee” refers to an arrangement where legal fees are due to the attorney only if the case is successful.
to direct attention to, as a reference mark does: Each number refers to an endnote.
Origin of refer
1Other words for refer
Other words from refer
- ref·er·a·ble, re·fer·ra·ble, re·fer·ri·ble [ref-er-uh-buhl, ri-fur-], /ˈrɛf ər ə bəl, rɪˈfɜr-/, adjective
- re·fer·rer, noun
- mis·re·fer, verb, mis·re·ferred, mis·re·fer·ring.
- pre·re·fer, verb (used with object), pre·re·ferred, pre·re·fer·ring.
- un·re·ferred, adjective
- well-re·ferred, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use refer in a sentence
Clark, who left Hogan’s administration at the end of May, referred questions to current administration officials.
Hogan’s first batch of coronavirus tests from South Korea were flawed, never used | Steve Thompson | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostSo there are entrepreneurs and operators I know that are referring other entrepreneurs to me.
Why is GoCardless COO Carlos Gonzalez-Cadenas pivoting to become a full-time VC? | Steve O'Hear | November 20, 2020 | TechCrunchAfter securing 60 acres of land, the “three city boys,” as Koney refers to himself and his co-founders, moved to the “middle of nowhere” to put their model to the test.
OTT refers to TV content that is delivered over the internet.
Deep Dive: How the future of publishing is taking shape in the ongoing coronavirus crisis era | Pierre Bienaimé | November 17, 2020 | DigidayEverybody is a previous customer or has been referred by one.
What businesses slammed by the pandemic can learn from America’s champion car salesman | Geoffrey Colvin | November 17, 2020 | Fortune
“You are applying Western metrics to someone who is not using that metric against you,” referring to ISIS, Bolger said.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“A mother has lost a son,” referring to his late cousin Akai.
Protesters Demand Justice For Gurley As Gap Grows Between Cops and NYC | M.L. Nestel | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe was referring to web censorship behind the Great Firewall.
He was referring to the genocide of Muslims during the Bosnian War.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies | Asawin Suebsaeng | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI ask Alexander Gilkes, referring to Prince William and Kate Middleton, whose wedding he attended.
William, Kate, and Jay Z’s Favorite Art Star: Alexander Gilkes' World of Rock Stars and Royalty | Tim Teeman | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe weight percentage can be found by referring to Purdy's tables, given later.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddThe Daily News, in referring to this, suggests that "peacock temper" was a misprint for "pique, or temper."
He was referring to the value of asbestos millboard as a lining for fireproof cases and deed boxes.
Asbestos | Robert H. JonesThe folks that know it all are the squabs, chuckled Bobby, referring to the freshman class.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. Morrison"The things," Mr. Devenish, is my rather stuffy way of referring to all the delightful poems that you are going to eat to-night.
First Plays | A. A. Milne
British Dictionary definitions for refer
/ (rɪˈfɜː) /
(intr) to make mention (of)
(tr) to direct the attention of (someone) for information, facts, etc: the reader is referred to Chomsky, 1965
(intr) to seek information (from): I referred to a dictionary of English usage; he referred to his notes
(intr) to be relevant (to); pertain or relate (to): this song refers to an incident in the Civil War
(tr) to assign or attribute: Cromwell referred his victories to God
(tr) to hand over for consideration, reconsideration, or decision: to refer a complaint to another department
(tr) to hand back to the originator as unacceptable or unusable
(tr) British to fail (a student) in an examination
(tr) British to send back (a thesis) to a student for improvement
refer to drawer a request by a bank that the payee consult the drawer concerning a cheque payable by that bank (usually because the drawer has insufficient funds in his account), payment being suspended in the meantime
(tr) to direct (a patient) for treatment to another doctor, usually a specialist
(tr) social welfare to direct (a client) to another agency or professional for a service
Origin of refer
1usage For refer
Derived forms of refer
- referable (ˈrɛfərəbəl) or referrable (rɪˈfɜːrəbəl), adjective
- referral, noun
- referrer, noun
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
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