refer to
phrasal verb
referred to; referring to; refers to
1
: to look at or in (something) for information
She often refers to her notes when giving a speech.
Please refer to our website for more information.
2
: to have a direct connection or relationship to (something)
The word "finch" refers to a kind of bird.
The numbers shown in the text refer to footnotes at the bottom of the page.
3
: to talk about or write about (someone or something) especially briefly : to mention (someone or something) in speech or in writing
No one referred to the incident.
Examples of refer to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Under the law, a pregnant woman can pursue a confidential birth by calling a 24/7 hotline and getting referred to a nearby counselor.
—
Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, or BTAC as it’s referred to by whiskey fans, first arrived a quarter of a century ago in 2000.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025
Huang also referred to companies like Azure, CoreWeave, and Anthropic AI as playing a key part in revolutionizing the entire tech stack.
—Jaures Yip, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
According to the National Library of Medicine, polytrauma refers to multiple injuries that involve multiple organs or systems.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refer to
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Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, or BTAC as it’s referred to by whiskey fans, first arrived a quarter of a century ago in 2000.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025
Huang also referred to companies like Azure, CoreWeave, and Anthropic AI as playing a key part in revolutionizing the entire tech stack.
—Jaures Yip, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
According to the National Library of Medicine, polytrauma refers to multiple injuries that involve multiple organs or systems.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refer to
Cite this Entry
“Refer to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refer%20to. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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