defer

de·fer

Use defer in a sentence

verb

To defer is defined as to delay something until later or to give into someone else.

An example of defer is when you tell the college to hold your place because you want to work for a year.
An example of defer is when you let your husband have his way.

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"defer." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFER>.

APA Style

defer. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFER

defer

transitive verb

intransitive verb

-·ferred′, -·fer′ring

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

Origin of defer

Middle English differren from Old French differer: see differ

intransitive verb

-·ferred′, -·fer′ring

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

Origin of defer

Middle English deferen from Old French deferer, to yield, pay deference to from Classical Latin deferre, to bring down from de-, down + ferre, to bear

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"defer." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFER>.

APA Style

defer. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFER

defer

intransitive verb

de·ferred, de·fer·ring, de·fers

To put off; postpone.
To postpone the induction of (one eligible for the military draft).

Origin of defer

Middle English differren to postpone, differ ; see differ .

Related Forms:

de·fer′ra·ble
adjective

de·fer′rer
noun

verb

de·ferred, de·fer·ring, de·fers

verb

intransitive

To submit to the wish or decision of another, as in recognition of authority. See Synonyms at yield.

verb

transitive

To commit or entrust to another: The principal deferred the decision to the school board.

Origin of defer

Middle English deferen from Old French deferer from Latin dēferre to carry away, refer to dē- de- ferre to carry ; see bher-¹ in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

de·fer′rer
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"defer." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFER>.

APA Style

defer. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DEFER

defer

defer ¹postpone shelve stay ¹suspend

These verbs mean to put off until a later time: deferred paying the bills; postponing our trip; shelved the issue; stay an execution; suspending train service.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.