Word
deferring
Phoneticsde·fer·ring, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈfɝɪŋ/
UK/dɪfˈɜːɹɪŋ/
Definition
v. to put something off until later instead of doing it now. You use this when you delay a decision, payment, or event.
v. to postpone or delay an action, decision, or obligation to a later time. Often followed by 'until', 'to' plus a time, or a gerund.
Examples
“She is deferring her trip until next month.”
“The student is deferring his exams because of illness and will take them in autumn.”
“By deferring the vote, leaders gave negotiators time to craft a compromise that satisfied both factions.”
Examples
simple
“She is deferring her trip until next month.”
contextual
“The student is deferring his exams because of illness and will take them in autumn.”
complex
“By deferring the vote, leaders gave negotiators time to craft a compromise that satisfied both factions.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “deferring” in context.
Verb
01. defer decision
“The board chose to defer its decision until next quarter.”
verb + noun
02. defer for review
“The committee agreed to defer the proposal for review.”
verb + prep + noun
03. defer judgment
“Let's defer judgment until we have seen the full report.”
verb + noun
04. defer payment
“Homeowners may apply to defer mortgage payments for three months.”
verb + noun
05. defer retirement
“Many professionals now defer retirement to stay financially secure.”
verb + noun
06. defer to september
“The judge agreed to defer the trial to September.”
verb + prep + noun
07. defer until autumn
“The university agreed to defer admission until autumn.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
08. indefinitely defer
“The council voted to indefinitely defer the redevelopment plan.”
adv + verb
09. defer a decision until later
“The board prefers to defer a decision until later in the year.”
10. defer judgment until trial
“The press should defer judgment until trial before assigning blame.”
11. defer payment for three months
“The bank lets customers defer payment for three months in hardship cases.”
12. defer retirement for financial reasons
“Many workers defer retirement for financial reasons rather than choice.”
Usage
Takes a direct object, often followed by 'until', 'to', or 'till' plus a time expression.
Real-World Examples
“President Trump's executive order deferring federal taxes on diesel is aimed at helping farmers but it's more complicated than it sounds and states are warning drivers they may owe taxes later.” “The draft document, which was seen by Reuters on Tuesday, now suggests deferring the law's application to December 30, 2026 for larger firms, and June 30, 2027 for smaller ones.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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