defer Definition
- 1put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone.
- 2submit humbly to (a person or a person's wishes or qualities).
- 3yield respectfully to the opinion or will of another person.
Using defer: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "defer" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The bank has agreed to defer the debt repayments for a year.
Example
I would like to defer my decision until next week.
Example
He deferred to her superior knowledge.
Example
I always defer to my father's judgment in such matters.
defer Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with defer
defer to
accept someone else's opinion or authority
Example
I usually defer to my boss's opinion on important matters.
defer to someone's judgment
accept someone else's opinion or decision
Example
I trust his expertise and often defer to his judgment.
defer payment
postpone payment until a later date
Example
The company allowed me to defer payment for six months.
Origins of defer
from Old French 'differer', from Latin 'differre', meaning 'carry away, be different'
Summary: defer in Brief
'Defer' [dɪˈfɜːr] means to put off an action or event to a later time, or to submit humbly to a person's wishes or opinions. It is often used in phrases like 'defer to' and 'defer payment.' Examples include 'The bank has agreed to defer the debt repayments for a year,' and 'I always defer to my father's judgment in such matters.'
