verb

defer

to postpone, to delay, to yield

The decision was deferred until the next meeting.

The decision was deferred until the next meeting.

I will defer to your greater knowledge on this.

I will defer to your greater knowledge on this.

((sth.)) to postpone sth. The decision was deferred until the next meeting.

((to sb./sth.)) to yield to sb./sth. I will defer to your greater knowledge on this.

Synonyms: postpone, delay, put off; yield, submit

From Latin 'de-' (away) + 'ferre' (to carry). Literally 'to carry away', which led to the sense of 'put off'.

Remember the two main meanings: to delay something, and to yield to someone's judgment out of respect.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.