Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » refer

refer

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Refer is defined as to direct to for something needed, or to make a reference.

(verb)

An example of refer is for a woman to suggest that her friend visit a specific doctor.
An example of refer is to include an in-text citation in a research paper.

See refer in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb referred, referring

to assign or attribute (to) as cause or origin
to assign, or regard or name as belonging (to a kind, class, date, etc.)
to submit (a quarrel, question, etc.) for determination or settlement
to send or direct (someone) to someone or something for aid, information, etc.

Origin: ME referren < MFr referer < L referre < re-, back + ferre, to bear

intransitive verb

to relate or apply (to); be concerned or deal
to direct attention, or make reference or allusion (to): to refer to an earlier event
to turn for information, aid, or authority (to): to refer to a map

Related Forms:

referable adjective or referrable or referrible
referrer noun

See refer in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb re·ferred, re·fer·ring, re·fers

verb, transitive

To direct to a source for help or information: referred her to a heart specialist; referred me to his last employer for a recommendation.
To assign or attribute to; regard as originated by.
To assign to or regard as belonging within a particular kind or class.
To submit (a matter in dispute) to an authority for arbitration, decision, or examination.
To direct the attention of: refer him to his duties.

verb, intransitive

To pertain; concern: questions referring to yesterday's lecture.
To make mention or reference.
To have recourse; turn: refer to a dictionary.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English referren

Origin: , from Old French referer

Origin: , from Latin referre

Origin: : re-, re-

Origin: + ferre, to carry; see bher-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

refˈer·a·ble (rĕfˈər-ə-bəl, rĭ-fûrˈ-) adjective

re·ferˈral noun

re·ferˈrer noun

Usage Note: It is sometimes believed that the phrase refer back is redundant, since the prefix re- means “back,” but the objection is misplaced. In fact, an expression can refer either to something that has already been mentioned or to something that is yet to be mentioned, and the distinction between refer back and refer ahead may thus be required for clarification. For example, the sentence Jones promised that if he was elected to the council, Harris would be made the council president is ambiguous, because the pronoun he may either refer back or refer ahead. See Usage Notes at allude, redundancy.

Learn more about refer

refer synonyms

refer in a sentence

refer quotes

link/cite print suggestion box