refer
Americanverb (used with object)
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refers,
present (3rd person singular)
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referred,
past participle, past
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referring
present participle
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to direct for information or anything required.
He referred me to books on astrology.
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to direct the attention or thoughts of.
The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote.
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to hand over or submit for information, consideration, treatment, assistance, decision, etc..
They were forced to refer the argument to arbitration.
The doctor will decide whether to carry out blood tests in the office or to refer the patient to a hospital.
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to recommend.
My electrician went above and beyond, and I would definitely refer her to a friend.
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to assign to a class, period, etc.; regard as belonging or related.
Animals referred to the phylum Platyhelminthes are also known as flatworms due to their flattened bodies.
verb phrase
verb
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(intr) to make mention (of)
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(tr) to direct the attention of (someone) for information, facts, etc
the reader is referred to Chomsky, 1965
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(intr) to seek information (from)
I referred to a dictionary of English usage
he referred to his notes
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(intr) to be relevant (to); pertain or relate (to)
this song refers to an incident in the Civil War
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(tr) to assign or attribute
Cromwell referred his victories to God
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(tr) to hand over for consideration, reconsideration, or decision
to refer a complaint to another department
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(tr) to hand back to the originator as unacceptable or unusable
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(tr) to fail (a student) in an examination
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(tr) to send back (a thesis) to a student for improvement
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a request by a bank that the payee consult the drawer concerning a cheque payable by that bank (usually because the drawer has insufficient funds in his account), payment being suspended in the meantime
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(tr) to direct (a patient) for treatment to another doctor, usually a specialist
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(tr) social welfare to direct (a client) to another agency or professional for a service
Usage
The common practice of adding back to refer is tautologous, since this meaning is already contained in the re- of refer: this refers to (not back to ) what has already been said . However, when refer is used in the sense of passing a document or question for further consideration to the person from whom it was received, it may be appropriate to say he referred the matter back
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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referralnoun
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referrernoun
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misreferverb
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prereferverb (used with object)
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referableadjective
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referrableadjective
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referribleadjective
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unreferredadjective
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well-referredadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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refersimple
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referssimple
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have referredperfect
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has referredperfect
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am referringprogressive
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are referringprogressive
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is referringprogressive
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have been referringperfect progressive
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has been referringperfect progressive
Past
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referredsimple
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had referredperfect
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was referringprogressive
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were referringprogressive
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had been referringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of refer
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English referren, from Latin referre “to bring back,” from re- re- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry”; see also bear 1
Explanation
If you refer to something, you consult it. To check your spelling, you refer to a dictionary. If you want to know when your spring break starts, you can refer to your class schedule. Refer is made up of two very useful Latin roots: re- "back" and ferre "carry," and when one thing refers to another, one meaning “carries back” to the other — there’s some kind of connection. "The term “Spaghetti Western” refers to a kind of Western often filmed in Italy by Italian filmmakers, in Italian." If you have a mysterious rash, your doctor might refer you — send you — to an allergist.
Vocabulary lists containing refer
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Driscoll used the term “core” to refer to longer-term investment-grade bond portfolios.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
The Federal Reserve’s independent watchdog said Wednesday it found no evidence of administrative misconduct and no grounds to refer anyone for criminal prosecution over the renovation of the central bank’s headquarters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Faith is obviously so important to you, and I’ve heard you many times refer to it as your “authentic why.”
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026
He has also called for US government documents to refer to the technology as "super intelligence," arguing that the word artificial "makes it sound fake."
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
It can refer to one gene, a configuration of genes, or even an entire genome.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The oral microbiome refers to the community of microorganisms living in the mouth.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
He laid out an affordability plan, which he refers to as “Califordable,” that he would prioritize if elected governor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Jeffrey Hirsch of the Stock Traders Almanac Newsletter refers to this as “Octoberphobia.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
This refers to the data storage company Snowflake, whose tools are used by dozens of firms for collecting, analysing and storing data.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
But Mom’s not much of a cook, and I don't think anyone’s ever going to get used to the slow cooker spewing out what Daniel refers to as gelatinous goo.
From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen
Asked to clarify what Hegseth meant by the execution being "public," a Pentagon spokesperson referred AFP to the US Army, which in turn said to contact the Pentagon.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Embassy officials there referred reporters to a State Department media office that didn’t respond to a request for comment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Elsewhere in her speech, Badenoch referred to other policies the party has announced in recent days.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
It’s also sometimes referred to as the Protection of Pupil Rights Act or the Hatch Amendment and it dates from 1978.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The first thing Glory did was call someone she referred to as Auntie North and tell her that she’d found the Ella St. Clay book.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
It has been an exceptionally quiet Atlantic hurricane season, broadly consistent with a strong El Niño, said Barnett, referring to a climate pattern that can lead to warmer weather.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
Just before the academy players go on the pitch, there is a sign that says: "Don't look sideways" - referring to where the first team train.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
"She's the one who started all of this," Lopez told AFP, referring to the camps and demonstrations that have placed housing at the heart of a snap general election on November 29.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
My day started shortly after 6:30 a.m., when Tzachi Braverman, the prime minister’s chief of staff, called me and said, “Get up! Come to the Kirya immediately,” referring to our military headquarters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
At some point, the campaign began referring to me as “the Closer” for the way I helped make up minds.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
