defer to

verb

deferred to; deferring to; defers to

1

: to allow (someone else) to decide or choose something

You have more experience with this, so I'm going to defer to you.

deferring to the experts

2

defer to (something) : to agree to follow (someone else's decision, a tradition, etc.)

The court defers to precedent in cases like these.

He deferred to his parents' wishes.

Examples of defer to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lawsuit renews scrutiny of Epstein’s New Mexico operations, which went uncharged as authorities repeatedly deferred to investigations elsewhere, according to a state commission report. — Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Because of the 2024 ruling, courts no longer have to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of statutes when the language is unclear. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

The league appears to be deferring to its teams, which may be in need of more direction from the WNBA. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

His coach at Windermere Prep, Kyle McClone, understands Bauer and Lopez-Lay could be tired, but the instructor at Waldorf Astoria Golf Club defers to the competitive nature of the players. — Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for defer to

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue