defer to
phrasal 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
Reynolds would need to defer to Marvel on any such casting decisions.
—
Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025
Government attorneys argued that the courts typically defer to the president’s judgment on national security matters.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Jason Manion, a lawyer for the Justice Department, said the government isn’t required to provide such evidence and that courts are supposed to defer to the military on policy questions.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
As Fielder explains, co-pilots often seem to defer to superiors making poor choices, failing to take control of the aircraft even when doing so could prevent mass fatalities.
—Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defer to
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Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025
Government attorneys argued that the courts typically defer to the president’s judgment on national security matters.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Jason Manion, a lawyer for the Justice Department, said the government isn’t required to provide such evidence and that courts are supposed to defer to the military on policy questions.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
As Fielder explains, co-pilots often seem to defer to superiors making poor choices, failing to take control of the aircraft even when doing so could prevent mass fatalities.
—Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defer to
Cite this Entry
“Defer to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defer%20to. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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