refer

[ ri-fur ]

verb (used with object)

, re·ferred, re·fer·ring.

1. to direct for information or anything required:

   He referred me to books on astrology.

2. to direct the attention or thoughts of:

   The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote.

3. 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.

4. to recommend:

   My electrician went above and beyond, and I would definitely refer her to a friend.

5. 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.

   Synonyms: impute, ascribe, attribute

verb phrase

1. 1. to have recourse or resort to; turn to, as for aid or information:

      I can't remember the answer offhand, so I'll have to refer to my notes.

   2. to mention; speak briefly of:

      The author referred to his teachers twice in the article.

   3. to relate to; apply to; mean or denote:

      The term “contingency fee” refers to an arrangement where legal fees are due to the attorney only if the case is successful.

   4. to direct attention to, as a reference mark does:

      Each number refers to an endnote.

refer

/ rɪˈfɜːrəbəl; rɪˈfɜː; ˈrɛfərəbəl /

verb

1. intr to make mention (of)
2. tr to direct the attention of (someone) for information, facts, etc

   the reader is referred to Chomsky, 1965

3. intr to seek information (from)

   I referred to a dictionary of English usage

   he referred to his notes

4. intr to be relevant (to); pertain or relate (to)

   this song refers to an incident in the Civil War

5. tr to assign or attribute

   Cromwell referred his victories to God

6. tr to hand over for consideration, reconsideration, or decision

   to refer a complaint to another department

7. tr to hand back to the originator as unacceptable or unusable
8. tr to fail (a student) in an examination
9. tr to send back (a thesis) to a student for improvement
10. refer to drawer
    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
11. tr to direct (a patient) for treatment to another doctor, usually a specialist
12. 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

Derived Forms

• reˈferrer, noun
• reˈferral, noun
• referable, adjective

Other Words From

• ref·er·a·ble re·fer·ra·ble re·fer·ri·ble [ref, -er-, uh, -b, uh, l, ri-, fur, -], adjective
• re·fer·rer noun
• mis·re·fer verb misreferred misreferring
• pre·re·fer verb (used with object) prereferred prereferring
• un·re·ferred adjective
• well-re·ferred adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of refer¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English referren, from Latin referre “to bring back,” from re- re- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry”; bear ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of refer¹

C14: from Latin referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear ¹

Example Sentences

In a retirement speech in September 2023, Milley — who worries about being recalled to active duty and court-martialed under a new Trump administration, according to Woodward’s latest book, “War” — offered an indirect commentary widely presumed to refer to the former president: “We don’t take an oath to a king or a queen, to a tyrant or dictator, or wannabe dictator.”

From Los Angeles Times

Emails reportedly sent in advance of official visits, including to a VIP lunch, ask for "no bananas" to be allowed on certain premises and refer to Brandberg having a "strong allergy" to the fruit.

From BBC

Speaking to journalists following Gray's statement, First Minister John Swinney said he would not refer the health secretary for an investigation under the ministerial code.

From BBC

The change effectively stripped tens of millions of dollars from organisations such as Planned Parenthood that offer or refer patients for abortions.

From BBC

Political scientists refer to everything I just described as liberal democracy.

From Slate

Related Words

• commit
• deliver
• hand over
• introduce
• pass on
• recommend
• send
• submit
• transfer
• turn over