defer

verb
UK: /dɪˈfɜː/
US: /dɪˈfɝː/

  1. To delay something until a later time.

    1. Let's defer the decision until next week.
    2. The committee decided to defer the vote on the proposal.

  2. To accept someone else's opinion or judgment because they have more knowledge or authority than you do.

    1. I defer to my doctor's advice on medical matters.
    2. In this case, I will defer to your greater experience.

Synonyms

delay submit postpone accede suspend respect yield
defer intransitive-verb

  1. To put off an action or event to a later time; postpone.

    1. We had to defer our vacation because of work.
    2. They decided to defer making a decision until more information was available.

  2. To yield respectfully in judgment or opinion to another.

    1. She tends to defer to her boss in most situations.
    2. He will often defer to the expertise of his colleagues.
defer transitive-verb

  1. To put off or postpone something.

    1. You can defer payment until next year.
    2. They chose to defer their travel plans.

  2. To submit to another's wishes, opinion, or judgment with respect.

    1. Employees often defer to management decisions.
    2. It's wise to defer to those with more experience in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "defer" in English means: To delay something until a later time., To accept someone else's opinion or judgment because they have more knowledge or authority than you do..

The phonetic transcription of "defer" is /dɪˈfɜː/ in British English and /dɪˈfɝː/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "defer": delay, submit, postpone, accede, suspend, respect, yield.

Example usage of "defer": "Let's defer the decision until next week.". More examples on the page.