Refer Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 5, 2024
Refer is used to mention or allude to someone or something; to direct attention or someone to a source of information. e.g., Please refer to the manual for further instructions.
Table of Contents
Refer Definitions
To direct someone for information, help, or service.
I'll refer you to a specialist who can help with your issue.
To attribute something to a specific cause.
She referred her success to hard work and dedication.
To point out or identify.
The map refers to several historical landmarks in the area.
To mention or speak about something or someone.
The author refers to an ancient philosopher in his book.
To send or direct something to someone for consideration or decision.
The manager will refer the complaint to the quality control department.
To have a direct connection or relation to something.
This clause refers to the terms outlined in the first section.
To recommend someone for a job, service, or position.
I will gladly refer my friend for the open position at your company.
To consult a source of information.
You should refer to the dictionary to improve your vocabulary.
To direct the attention of someone to a particular thing.
The sign refers visitors to the information desk for assistance.
To use as a reference or citation.
In her thesis, she refers to numerous scientific studies.
To direct to a source for help or information
Referred her to a heart specialist.
Referred me to his last employer for a recommendation.
To submit (a matter in dispute) to an authority for arbitration, decision, or examination.
To direct the attention of
I refer you to the training manual.
To assign or attribute to; regard as originated by.
To assign to or regard as belonging within a particular kind or class
Referred the newly discovered partita to the 1600s.
To relate or pertain; concern
Questions referring to yesterday's lecture.
To serve as a descriptor or have as a denotation
The word chair refers to a piece of furniture.
To speak or write about something briefly or incidentally; make reference
Referred during our conversation to several books he was reading.
To turn one's attention, as in seeking information
Refer to a dictionary.
(transitive) To direct the attention of (someone toward something)
The shop assistant referred me to the help desk on ground floor.
(transitive) To submit to (another person or group) for consideration; to send or direct elsewhere.
He referred the matter to the principal.
To refer a patient to a psychiatrist
To place in or under by a mental or rational process; to assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason, or ground of explanation.
He referred the phenomena to electrical disturbances.
(intransitive) To mention (something); to direct attention (to something)
To explain the problem, the teacher referred to an example in another textbook.
To make reference to; to be about; to relate to; to regard; to allude to.
The recipe referred to several unusual ingredients.
(grammar) To be referential to another element in a sentence.
To point to either a specific location in computer memory or to a specific object. to
In C, the pointer obtained by
&a refers to the variable a.Required to resit an examination.
Smith's marks in the finals were unsatisfactory and he was referred.
(journalism) A blurb on the front page of a newspaper issue or section that refers the reader to the full story inside the issue or section by listing its slug or headline and its page number.
To carry or send back.
Hence: To send or direct away; to send or direct elsewhere, as for treatment, aid, information, decision, etc.; to make over, or pass over, to another; as, to refer a student to an author; to refer a beggar to an officer; to refer a bill to a committee; a court refers a matter of fact to a commissioner for investigation, or refers a question of law to a superior tribunal.
To place in or under by a mental or rational process; to assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason, or ground of explanation; as, he referred the phenomena to electrical disturbances.
I'll refer me to all things sense.
To have recourse; to apply; to appeal; to betake one's self; as, to refer to a dictionary.
In suits . . . it is to refer to some friend of trust.
To have relation or reference; to relate; to point; as, the figure refers to a footnote.
Of those places that refer to the shutting and opening the abyss, I take notice of that in Job.
To carry the mind or thought; to direct attention; as, the preacher referred to the late election.
To direct inquiry for information or a guarantee of any kind, as in respect to one's integrity, capacity, pecuniary ability, and the like; as, I referred to his employer for the truth of his story.
Now to the universal whole advert:The earth regard as of that whole a part.
Make reference to;
His name was mentioned in connection with the invention
Have to do with or be relevant to;
There were lots of questions referring to her talk
My remark pertained to your earlier comments
Think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another;
This plant can be referred to a known species
Send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision;
Refer a patient to a specialist
Refer a bill to a committee
Seek information from;
You should consult the dictionary
Refer to your notes
Have as a meaning;
`multi-' denotes `many'
Refer Snonyms
Attribute
To regard something as being caused by someone or something.
She attributed her success to hard work.
Consult
To seek information or advice from (someone, especially an expert or professional).
I need to consult a lawyer about this issue.
Relate
To make or show a connection between two or more things.
He related the facts of the case to the jury.
Direct
To guide or tell someone to go to a particular place.
The sign directs visitors to the main entrance.
Cite
To quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement.
The student cited several studies in her thesis.
Allude
To suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at.
The speaker alluded to the recent economic downturn in his speech.
Mention
To speak about something quickly, giving little detail or using few words.
She mentioned that she would be late.
Point
To direct someone's attention towards something by extending one's finger or by other indicators.
He pointed to the sign that indicated the exit.
Invoke
To cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument.
The attorney invoked the Fifth Amendment.
Quote
To repeat or copy out (a group of words from a text or speech), typically with an indication that one is not the original author or speaker.
She quoted a famous poet in her speech.
Refer Idioms & Phrases
Refer someone on
To direct someone to another person or place for further assistance.
I can't help you with this, but I can refer you on to someone who can.
Refer to the drawing board
To start again from the beginning.
If this plan fails, we'll have to refer to the drawing board.
Refer to as
To call or name something in a specific way.
He prefers to be referred to as Dr. Smith.
Refer to someone's expertise
To consult someone knowledgeable in a particular area.
For this issue, we should refer to Dr. Lee's expertise.
Without reference to
Ignoring or not considering.
Decisions were made without reference to the team's input.
Refer someone for
To recommend someone for a job, service, or position.
I'll refer you for the position since you're a perfect fit.
Refer back to
To look again at something for information.
You may need to refer back to your notes during the exam.
Cross-refer
To make a reference from one part of a book or document to another.
The chapters cross-refer to each other for ease of navigation.
Refer to the manual
A suggestion to consult the manual for information or instructions.
If you're unsure how to install the software, refer to the manual.
Refer to the minutes
To consult the official record of a meeting.
For details on what was agreed upon, refer to the minutes.
Refer to precedent
To cite previous cases or decisions as a guide.
The lawyer referred to precedent to build his case.
Refer to the scoreboard
To check the current score or status in a competition.
To see who's winning, refer to the scoreboard.
Refer to the archives
To look into past records or documents for information.
For historical accuracy, refer to the archives.
Refer to the guidelines
To consult the set guidelines for direction or instructions.
Before submitting your report, refer to the guidelines.
Refer to the rulebook
To look at or follow the rules set in a rulebook.
Any disputes during the game should refer to the rulebook.
Refer to the syllabus
To look at the course outline or plan for information.
For assignment deadlines, refer to the syllabus.
Refer to experience
To use one's own or others' past experiences as a guide.
When making this decision, I referred to my own experience.
Refer someone to a clause
To point someone to a specific section of a document.
For the payment terms, refer to clause 5B.
Refer Example Sentences
Can you refer me to a good mechanic in the area?
The teacher asked us to refer to chapter 4 for the homework.
This article refers to the economic impacts of climate change.
The guidebook refers to a hidden gem not many tourists know about.
The document refers to several important legal statutes.
Please refer to the appendix for the technical specifications.
For a better understanding of the topic, refer to the figures and charts included.
If you have further questions, please refer to our FAQ page.
When in doubt, refer to the user manual for troubleshooting tips.
The brochure refers readers to the website for more detailed information.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in refer?
Refer has two syllables.
How is refer used in a sentence?
Refer is used to indicate directing someone to a source of information or to mention or allude to something, e.g., Refer to the text on page 10 for more information.
What is a stressed syllable in refer?
In "refer," the stressed syllable is "fer."
What is the verb form of refer?
The verb form of refer is "refer," as in referring or to refer.
What is another term for refer?
Another term for refer is "mention" or "allude."
Why is it called refer?
It is called "refer" from the Latin "referre," meaning "to bring back" or "to report," referring to the act of directing someone or something for information or authority.
What is the second form of refer?
The second form of "refer" is "referred."
What is the third form of refer?
The third form of "refer" is "referred."
How do we divide refer into syllables?
Refer is divided into syllables as: re-fer.
What is the first form of refer?
The first form of "refer" is "refer."
What is the singular form of refer?
The singular form of refer is "refer."
Is refer an adverb?
No, refer is not an adverb.
What is the pronunciation of refer?
Refer is pronounced as /rɪˈfɜr/.
What is the root word of refer?
The root word of "refer" is from the Latin "referre."
What is the plural form of refer?
Refer does not have a plural form; its usage changes based on the subject it applies to.
Is refer a noun or adjective?
Refer is a verb.
Is the refer term a metaphor?
"Refer" can be used metaphorically to describe the act of directing someone's attention to something indirectly.
Is the word refer imperative?
Yes, "refer" can be used in an imperative form, as in giving commands or instructions.
Which vowel is used before refer?
The vowel used before "refer" depends on the context and the preceding word; there is no specific rule.
Which determiner is used with refer?
Determiners are not typically used with verbs like "refer."
Is refer a vowel or consonant?
The first letter of "refer," R, is a consonant.
Is refer a countable noun?
Refer is not a noun; it is a verb and thus not countable.
Is the word refer Gerund?
Yes, when used with -ing (referring), it acts as a gerund.
What part of speech is refer?
Refer is a verb.
Is refer an abstract noun?
No, refer is a verb, not a noun.
Is refer a collective noun?
No, refer is not a collective noun.
Is the word “refer” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In a sentence, "refer" can have a direct object, which is the thing or person to which attention is directed.
What is the opposite of refer?
The opposite of refer could be "ignore" or "overlook."
Is refer a negative or positive word?
Refer is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
Which preposition is used with refer?
Prepositions like "to" are commonly used with "refer," e.g., "refer to a book."
Which conjunction is used with refer?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used to connect clauses involving "refer."
Which article is used with refer?
Articles are not used with verbs like "refer."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
