defer

defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. deferred buying a car until spring postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time. the game is postponed until Saturday suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied. business will be suspended while repairs are underway stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority. the governor stayed the execution

Verb (2)

yield, submit, capitulate, succumb, relent, defer mean to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist. yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty. yields too easily in any argument submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another. a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force. officials capitulated to the protesters' demands succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force. a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand. finally relented and let the children stay up late defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another. I defer to your expertise in these matters

Examples of defer in a Sentence

Verb (1) Backers say the arrangement will make patients more cost-conscious and judicious in their use of medical service, thus restraining health-cost increases; critics say it will cause patients to defer needed treatment and will be attractive only to younger, healthier workers. — Wall Street Journal, 9 Jan. 2006 A far stronger signal came when the draft was revived, shortly before the United States entered World War II. Although married men with families were eligible for induction, in many cases up to the age of forty, high school students were automatically deferred. — Thomas Hine, American Heritage, September 1999 The decision was deferred for a time. John didn't want to do anything drastic until after October … — Joe Klein, Payback, 1984 Verb (2) But in 1775, when William chose loyalty to empire over deference to his father, Franklin abruptly, angrily, and permanently broke with his son. Despite having defied his own father (in leaving Boston), Franklin pulled patriarchal rank to demand that his son defer to his politics: "there are natural duties which precede political ones, and cannot be extinguished by them." — Alan Taylor, New Republic, 13 Jan. 2003 Israelis can be harsh with each other, but they defer to the security guards who check their backpacks at the mall entrances. They put their faith in the Army. — David Brooks, Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2001

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Boilermakers won the coin toss and chose to defer their decision until the second half. — Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin 45, Purdue 24: Pretty? No. Good enough to set up showdown with Minnesota? Absolutely.," 23 Nov. 2019 Washington wants Ankara, at a minimum, to further defer launching the system. — Robin Wright, The New Yorker, "After Six Decades, Turkey Is Now a U.S. Ally in Name Only," 14 Nov. 2019 That policy granted immigration officers discretion to defer deportation for Dreamers who qualified based on their studies, work, or service contributions in the US. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "Dreamers are hopeful ahead of SCOTUS hearing," 11 Nov. 2019 Community leaders declined to speak on the record about the event, deferring to OSTP. — Jeffrey Mervis, Science | AAAS, "White House to host closed-door summit on U.S. research enterprise," 29 Oct. 2019 Some like to give their opinion and make decisions; others like to defer and build consensus. — Liz Bentley, Marie Claire, "How Do I Deal With Difficult Coworkers?," 1 Oct. 2019 In his plan for reform, Sanders wants to expand DACA and DAPA, plans that allow immigrants to defer deportation and gain work permits. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Everything You Need to Know About the 2020 Presidential Primaries," 24 Sep. 2019 Knotted at 20-20 after four quarters of play, the Bears won the coin toss and elected to defer. — Shawn Mcfarland, courant.com, "High school football: Rome’s four touchdowns, Attianese’s walkoff kick lead Granby/Canton past Stafford/Somers/East Windsor in OT 27-26," 14 Sep. 2019 Undocumented families hoping to defer deportation because of medical issues just got some good news. — Doug Criss, CNN, "5 things to know for September 3: Dorian, boat fire, Afghanistan, West Texas shooting," 3 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for defer

Verb (1)

Middle English differren, deferren, borrowed from Anglo-French differer, borrowed (with conjugational change) from Latin differre "to carry away in varying directions, spread abroad, postpone, delay, be unlike or distinct" — more at differ

Note: The verb defer is not distinct etymologically from differ—see note at etymology of that entry. The spelling of the initial unstressed syllable as -e- was perhaps by association with delay entry 2.

Verb (2)

Middle English differen, deferen "to submit (a matter) for decision, submit to another's judgment," borrowed from Middle French deferer, deferrer "to bring (a defendant) before a court, submit to another's will," borrowed (with conjugation change) from Medieval Latin dēferre "to convey, show respect, submit to a decision" (Late Latin, "to pay respect to"), going back to Latin, "to bring down, convey, transfer, submit," from dē- de- + ferre "to carry, convey" — more at bear entry 2

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