defer
defer Lexical Profile
defer Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To put off an action, decision, or event to a later time; to postpone.
"The university agreed to defer her admission for one year so she could complete a research fellowship abroad."
To submit or yield respectfully to the opinion, judgment, or authority of another person (usually followed by 'to').
"Because the legal statute is highly technical, the board will defer to the general counsel's recommendation."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Defer' is a homograph representing two distinct verbs: as a transitive verb taking a direct object, it means to postpone an action ('defer the payment'), whereas as an intransitive verb followed by 'to', it means to yield respectfully to another's judgment ('defer to the committee').
• Rhymes for defer
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
English 'defer' merges two distinct Old French verbs derived from Latin 'deferre' ('to carry down, submit') and 'differre' ('to carry apart, postpone'), both formed from the prefix 'de-' or 'dis-' and the root 'ferre' ('to bear or carry').