51³Ô¹Ï

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View synonyms for

defer

1

[dih-fur]

verb (used with object)

deferred, deferring 
  1. to put off (action, consideration, etc.) to a future time.

    The decision has been deferred by the board until next week.

  2. to exempt temporarily from induction into military service.



verb (used without object)

deferred, deferring 
  1. to put off action; delay.

defer

2

[dih-fur]

verb (used without object)

deferred, deferring 
  1. to yield respectfully in judgment or opinion (usually followed byto ).

    We all defer to him in these matters.

    Synonyms: , , ,

verb (used with object)

deferred, deferring 
  1. to submit for decision; refer.

    We defer questions of this kind to the president.

defer

1

/ »åɪˈ´ÚÉœË /

verb

  1. (tr) to delay or cause to be delayed until a future time; postpone

“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

defer

2

/ »åɪˈ´ÚÉœË /

verb

  1. to yield (to) or comply (with) the wishes or judgments of another

    I defer to your superior knowledge

“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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Other 51³Ô¹Ï Forms

  • deferrer noun
  • »å±ðˈ´Ú±ð°ù°ù±ð°ù noun
  • »å±ðˈ´Ú±ð°ù°ù²¹²ú±ô±ð adjective
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51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins

Origin of defer1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English deferen, differren “to delayâ€; defer 2 differ

Origin of defer2

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English deferren, from Latin »åŧ´Ú±ð°ù°ù±ð “to carry from or down, report, accuse,†equivalent to »åŧ- “from, away from, out of†+ ferre “to carryâ€; de-, bear 1
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51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins

Origin of defer1

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

Origin of defer2

C15: from Latin »åŧ´Ú±ð°ù°ù±ð, literally: to bear down, from de- + ferre to bear
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Synonym Study

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. procrastinate.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Prosecutors accused Rhiannon Do of making a false statement on a loan application, but agreed to defer the charge, allowing her to enter a diversion agreement in exchange for her cooperation.

From

The pace of the escalation, and the federal government’s unwillingness to defer to cooperative local law enforcement authorities, raise questions about the administration’s intentions as it responds to protesters.

From

Everyone is aging, losing money, and feeling lost and entirely directionless in a country that has deferred its fabled dream to prioritize wealth and power.

From

The 2007 writers’ strike deferred that goal, so Lurie pivoted to write three erotic novels which, she reveals, were “critiques of capitalism wrapped in a romance novel.â€

From

Moore told the seven justices that the appeals court had made the correct decision to defer to the commission.

From

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defensivenessdeference