Word
referring
Phoneticsre·fer·ring, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹɪˈfɝɪŋ/
UK/ɹɪfˈɜːɹɪŋ/
Definitions
01mentioning something
B1 · Intermediate
v. talking about or mentioning a person, thing, or idea.
v. alluding to or mentioning a specific subject, person, or event in speech or writing.
“I think she was referring to the meeting we had last Tuesday.”
“The speaker was clearly referring to the recent economic downturn, though he avoided mentioning the specific figures in his opening remarks.”
Usage
Requires the preposition 'to' when taking an object.
Pitfall
He was referring his old job.
He was referring to his old job.
The verb 'refer' must be followed by the preposition 'to' when mentioning something.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02sending to an expert
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. sending someone to a different person or place for help or information.
v. directing a person to a specialist, authority, or different department for professional consultation or action.
“The doctor is referring me to a specialist for more tests.”
“The primary care physician is referring the patient to a cardiologist to investigate the persistent heart palpitations.”
Usage
Often follows the pattern 'referring someone to someone else'.
Synonyms
03looking for information
B1 · Intermediate
v. looking at a book, map, or website to find information.
v. consulting a source of information for facts, data, or guidance.
“He kept referring to his notes during the presentation.”
“The researchers were constantly referring to the original data sets to ensure their conclusions remained accurate throughout the analysis.”
Synonyms
04the act of mentioning
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of mentioning or pointing something out.
n. the action of mentioning or alluding to something; a specific instance of reference.
“The constant referring to past mistakes made the conversation difficult.”
“The author's frequent referring to obscure classical texts suggests a highly academic intended audience.”
Teaching tip
While 'reference' is the more common noun, 'referring' is used as a gerund to describe the ongoing action.
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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