Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense refers, present participle referring, past tense, past participle referred
1. verb
If you referto a particular subject or person, you talk about them or mention them.
In his speech, he referred to a recent trip to Canada. [VERB + to]
2. verb
If you referto someone or something as a particular thing, you use a particular word, expression, or name to mention or describe them.
Marcia had referred to him as a dear friend. [VERB + to]
He simply referred to him as Ronnie. [Vto n as n]
Our economy is referred to as a free market. [Vto n as n]
3. verb
If a word refersto a particular thing, situation, or idea, it describes it in some way.
The term electronics refers to electrically-induced action. [VERB + to]
4. verb [usually passive]
If a person who is ill is referredto a hospital or a specialist, they are sent there by a doctor in order to be treated.
Patients are mostly referred to hospital by their general practitioners. [beVERB-ed + to]
The patient should be referred for tests immediately. [beVERB-ed]
5. verb
If you refer a task or a problem to a person or an organization, you formally tell them about it, so that they can deal with it.
He could refer the matter to the high court. [VERB noun + to]
Synonyms: pass on, transfer, deliver, commit More Synonyms of refer
6. verb
If you refer someone to a person or organization, you send them there for the help they need.
Now and then I referred a client to him. [VERB noun + to]
7. verb
If you referto a book or other source of information, you look at it in order to find something out.
He referred briefly to his notebook. [VERB + to]
8. verb
If you refer someone to a source of information, you tell them the place where they will find the information which they need or which you think will interest them.
Mr Bryan also referred me to a book by the American journalist Anthony Scaduto. [VERB noun + to]
Synonyms: direct, point, send, guide More Synonyms of refer
refer in British English
(rɪˈfɜː)
verbWord forms: -fers, -ferring or -ferred(often foll by to)
1. (intransitive)
to make mention (of)
2. (transitive)
to direct the attention of (someone) for information, facts, etc
the reader is referred to Chomsky, 1965
3. (intransitive)
to seek information (from)
I referred to a dictionary
he referred to his notes
4. (intransitive)
to be relevant (to); pertain or relate (to)
this song refers to an incident in the Civil War
5. (transitive)
to assign or attribute
Cromwell referred his victories to God
6. (transitive)
to hand over for consideration, reconsideration, or decision
to refer a complaint to another department
7. (transitive)
to hand back to the originator as unacceptable or unusable
8. (transitive) British
to fail (a student) in an examination
9. (transitive) British
to send back (a thesis) to a student for improvement
10. refer to drawer
11. (transitive)
to direct (a patient) for treatment to another doctor, usually a specialist
12. (transitive) 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 considerationto the person from whom it was received, it may be appropriate to say he referred the matter back
Derived forms
referable (ˈrɛfərəbəl) or referrable (rɪˈfɜːrəbəl)
adjective
referral (reˈferral)
noun
referrer (reˈferrer)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin referre to carry back, from re- + ferre to bear1
refer in American English
(rɪˈfɜr)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈferred or reˈferring
1.
to assign or attribute (to) as cause or origin
2.
to assign, or regard or name as belonging (to a kind, class, date, etc.)
3.
to submit (a quarrel, question, etc.) for determination or settlement
4.
to send or direct (someone) to someone or something for aid, information, etc.
verb intransitive
5.
to relate or apply (to); be concerned or deal
6.
to direct attention, or make reference or allusion (to)
to refer to an earlier event
7.
to turn for information, aid, or authority (to)
to refer to a map
SYNONYMY NOTE: refer implies deliberate, direct, and open mention of something [he referred in detail to their corrupt practices]; allude implies indirect, often casual mention, as by a hint or a figure of speech [although she used different names, she was alluding to her family]
Derived forms
referable (ˈrɛfərəbəl; rɪˈfɜrəbəl)
adjective or reˈferrable or reˈferrible
referrer (reˈferrer)
noun
Word origin
ME referren < MFr referer < L referre < re-, back + ferre, to bear1
Examples of 'refer' in a sentence
refer
If congestion continues for more than a month, the patient should be referred to a specialist.
The Sun (2016)
The doctor wanted to refer me to an ear, nose and throat specialist.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
No formal complaint had been made and the matter was referred back to the inquiry, a spokeswoman said.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your doctor should refer you to a recurrent miscarriage clinic.
The Sun (2013)
They refer back to ancestors on both sides from generations ago.
The Sun (2015)
Perhaps the person referred to is not the person we seek.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
He began to refer his clients to her.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why are more male than female doctors referred for poor performance?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
My doctor referred me to a consultant for implants because my lack of chest affected my selfesteem.
The Sun (2013)
Ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist.
The Sun (2014)
Until the eighteenth century it was correct to say "you was "if you were referring to one person.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
Hospital owners offered cash kickbacks to consultants for referring patients to them and perks such as free use of consulting rooms.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Another failure in the system is the delay in patients being referred to a specialist at the first signs of disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Prices refer to particular models, and may include extras such as metallic paint.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In reality, people have to be referred by existing clients or friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They have been able to refer patients for cancer tests within two weeks since the early 2000s.
The Sun (2015)
The sort of person that refers to his car by its manufacturing code, not its name.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some GPs have a great track record of identifying potential symptoms and referring patients quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The only person they refer to as Daddy is my husband.
The Sun (2006)
Clients are referred by partner agencies such as homeless shelters, job centres and prisons.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He said that patients could be referred to hospitals in Birmingham.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Those anonymous curators he quotes were referring to particular works, not to the culture that produced them.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There may also be GPs who lack confidence in a particular area and refer more patients with those sorts of problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Here we refer back to Bellow.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Were particular programmes referred to?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some insurers only refer back to the maps annually, and all will use previous information about payouts they have made in an area.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The case has been referred back to the Court of Appeal to quash the conviction.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
refer
British English: refer /rɪˈfɜː/ VERB
If you refer to a particular subject or person, you mention them.
In his speech, he referred to a recent trip abroad.
to refer sth to (= pass on)[task, problem]把某事提交给(給) (bǎ mǒushì tíjiāo gěi)
1 (verb)
Definition
to hand over for consideration or decision
He could refer the matter to the high court.
Synonyms
pass on
transfer
Certain kinds of property are transferred automatically.
deliver
He was led in handcuffs and delivered over to me.
commit
The government have committed billions of pounds to the programme.
hand over
submit
They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.
turn over
consign
He had managed to obtain arms in France and have them safely consigned to America.
2 (verb)
Definition
to direct the attention of (someone) for information
He referred me to a book on the subject.
Synonyms
direct
He directed the tiny beam of light at the roof.
point
He controlled the car until it was pointing forwards again.
send
He sent a basket of exotic fruit and a card.
guide
She took the bewildered man by the arm and guided him out.
recommend
phrasal verb
See refer to something or someone
Usage note
It is usually unnecessary to add back to the verb refer, since the sense of back is already contained in the re- part of this word. For example, you might say This refers to (not refers back to) what has already been said. Refer back is only considered acceptable when used to mean `return a document or question to the person it came from for further consideration', as in he referred the matter back to me.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of commit
The government have committed billions of pounds to the programme.
Synonyms
give,
deliver,
engage,
deposit,
hand over,
commend (formal),
entrust,
consign
in the sense of consign
Definition
to address or deliver (goods)
He had managed to obtain arms in France and have them safely consigned to America.
Synonyms
deliver,
ship,
transfer,
transmit,
convey
in the sense of deliver
Definition
to hand over
He was led in handcuffs and delivered over to me.
Synonyms
hand over,
present,
commit,
give up,
yield,
surrender,
turn over,
relinquish,
make over
Synonyms of 'refer'
refer
Explore 'refer' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of guide
Definition
to lead the way for (tourists or travellers)
She took the bewildered man by the arm and guided him out.
Synonyms
lead,
direct,
escort,
conduct,
pilot,
accompany,
steer,
shepherd,
convoy,
usher,
show the way
in the sense of point
Definition
to direct or face in a specific direction
He controlled the car until it was pointing forwards again.
Synonyms
face,
look,
direct
in the sense of send
Definition
to cause (a person or thing) to go or be taken or transmitted to another place
He sent a basket of exotic fruit and a card.
Synonyms
dispatch,
post,
mail,
forward,
direct,
convey,
consign,
remit,
send on,
put in the post or mail
in the sense of submit
Definition
to send (an application or proposal) to someone for judgment or consideration
They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.
Synonyms
present,
hand in,
tender,
put forward,
table (British),
commit,
refer,
proffer
in the sense of transfer
Definition
to move (money or property) from the control of one person or organization to that of another
Certain kinds of property are transferred automatically.