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defer¹ Definition

de·fer (dē fʉr′, di-)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·ferred′, -·fer′·ring

  1. to put off to a future time; postpone; delay
  2. to postpone the induction of (a person) into compulsory military service

Etymology: ME differren < OFr differer: see differ

defer¹ Related Forms

de·fer′·ra·ble adjective de·fer′·rer noun

defer² Definition

de·fer (dē fʉr′, di-)

intransitive verb -·ferred′, -·fer′·ring

to give in to the wish or judgment of another, as in showing respect; yield with courtesy (to)

Etymology: ME deferen < OFr deferer, to yield, pay deference to < L deferre, to bring down < de-, down + ferre, to bear

defer Synonyms

defer

v.

  1. To postpone

    put off, delay, shelve; see delay 1, suspend 2.

  2. To yield; usually used with to

    submit, obey, accede, acquiesce, concede, comply, give in, bow; see also admit 3, agree to, yield 1, 3. See syn. study at yield.

defer Usage Examples

Object

  • gratification: But in an age where few are prepared to defer gratification, resistance among developers to the promise of instant ecommerce functionality is crumbling.
  • arrears: CSA deferred the arrears owed by the non-resident parent.
  • repayment: If you do not defer repayment, you will then receive a schedule of the monthly repayments you will make between April and August.
  • decision: The Task Force agreed to defer a final decision on the paper.
  • payment: No Can you defer the payments at the start of your loan?
  • consideration: Again I defer the detailed consideration of the question whether the European Convention does or does not apply.

Adjective complement

due: The application was subsequently deferred due to a lack of time.

Modifying Another Word

  • indefinitely: The 1996 deadline for separated parents not on benefit to begin using the CSA to overturn settlements agreed in court has been deferred indefinitely.
  • merely: The question is: have the new owners saved the company or merely deferred its day of reckoning?
  • subsequently: The application was subsequently deferred due to a lack of time.

Used with why or when

where: This recognition should only be deferred where there are reasons for believing the farmer will not be able to comply.

Infinitive complement

  • enable: The second, on marriage law, has been deferred to enable us to take into account Parliament's wishes on civil partnership legislation.
  • allow: Members decided to defer to allow investigations to be held into how a liaison group would work.

Present participle complement

  • pend: Letter to monitoring network had been deferred pending discussion at item 9 of present agenda.
  • purchase: In particular, they may find it attractive to be able to defer purchasing an annuity at times when annuity rates are unfavorable.
  • draw: Of course, it would be unrealistic to defer drawing a pension if one didn't have a source of income in the meantime.

Preposition: until

meeting: Arrangements are to be deferred until the next meeting.

Preposition: for

  • consideration: Consequently, eight planning applications have been deferred for consideration to an adjourned meeting to be held on 21 December at 7.30 pm.
  • month: She said she was asking for the application to be deferred for 1 month.
  • discussion: They show that where the Cabinet failed to agree or a decision was deferred for further discussion.