# refer to sb/sth as sth

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/refer-to-sb-sth-as-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to use a specific name or title for someone or something.

For teachers: to use a particular word or phrase to describe or name a person or thing; often used in the passive voice to indicate established terminology.

## Examples

- He refers to his car as 'The Beast'.
- The local residents often refer to the old park as the heart of the community.
- In academic circles, scholars often refer to this period as the Golden Age of literature due to the high volume of influential works produced.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They refer the city like a paradise." but "They refer to the city as a paradise." — the verb 'refer' requires 'to' for the object and 'as' for the description.

## Usage notes

- requires the preposition 'to' after the verb and 'as' before the name or description.
- Teaching tip: this is a three-part structure; ensure students do not omit 'as', which functions here to introduce the complement.

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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.