Skip to main content

defer — to delay or postpone something to a later time

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to delay or postpone something to a later time

Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈfɜːr/

Example Sentences

  • The student decided to defer his college admission to travel around the world first.
  • I usually defer to my mom's cooking advice, but her suggestion to add chocolate to kimchi was too much.
  • The company decided to defer the bonus payments until the next quarter.

defer

VERB

[/dɪˈfɜːr/]

to delay or postpone something to a later time

The committee voted to defer the decision until next month's meeting.
💡 Concept

The committee voted to defer the decision until next month's meeting.

Defer the choice: refer to experts rather than just prefer the obvious
🎵 Rhyme

Defer the choice: refer to experts rather than just prefer the obvious

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/dɪˈfɜːr/
🇬🇧 UK/dɪˈfɜː/

🌳Etymology

Prefixde--
Rootfer

Origin

From Latin 'deferre', meaning 'to carry away' or 'to put off', composed of the prefix 'de-' (away) and 'ferre' (to carry or bear). The sense shifted from the physical act of carrying away to the temporal concept of postponing.

Breakdown

de- (away, down) + fer (carry, bear) = defer (to carry away/postpone)

🎵Rhyme

prefer
refer
confer
transfer

🔗Collocations

defer payment
defer to someone
defer a decision
defer judgment
defer admission

📝Examples

“The student decided to defer his college admission to travel around the world first.”

😄 Fun example

“I usually defer to my mom's cooking advice, but her suggestion to add chocolate to kimchi was too much.”

“The company decided to defer the bonus payments until the next quarter.”

😄 Fun example

“He always defers his homework until the last minute, then panics like a chicken without a head.”

📚Related Words

Want to master 27,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.