# defer

/dɪˈfɝ/ (US) · /dɪfˈɜː/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/defer
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to delay something until a later time, or to let someone else decide because you respect their opinion.

For teachers: to postpone an action or event to a future date; alternatively, to submit to another's authority or judgment out of respect.

## Examples

- The committee decided to defer the vote until next month.
- I will defer to my manager's expertise on this technical matter since she has more experience.
- While the board initially wanted to proceed, they chose to defer the final decision until the environmental impact report was fully vetted by independent consultants.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I defer my decision to next week" but "I deferred my decision until next week" — When meaning to postpone, 'defer' is often confused with 'delay'; it typically implies a formal or deliberate choice to wait.

## Usage notes

- When meaning to submit to someone, it is intransitive and takes the preposition 'to'. When meaning to postpone, it is transitive and takes a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.