Definition of defer
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defer was our Word of the Day on 01/10/2012. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of defer in a Sentence
- 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
Recent Examples of defer from the Web
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The breaks would come from deferring the increase in real estate assessment, or the difference between the value of the vacant land and the development.
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At bottom, deferring someone’s deportation and granting a temporary work permit is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion that presidents may invoke, and have invoked, for humanitarian reasons for decades.
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One team might propose doing it all at once, while another defers some of the work.
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But in summer 2015 — after oil prices collapsed and with the state facing a $3.5 billion deficit — Gov. Bill Walker began using his veto power to defer payments.
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The State Board of Education this summer deferred until January a final decision on how to identify the rest of the bottom 5%.
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In turn, Braindead Brewing in Dallas is holding a fundraiser at its brewpub to help her family defer expenses at 6 p.m. Friday.
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In general, however, Martin avoids discussing the show’s current storylines — which have extended beyond the narrative scope of his five A Song of Ice and Fire novels — deferring questions to showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss.
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Willard deferred ruling on Bradley's forced participation until the state calls him as a witness.
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.
Origin and Etymology of defer
Middle English deferren, differren, from Middle French differer, from Latin differre to postpone, be different — more at differ
Synonym Discussion of defer
defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.
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- deferred buying a car until spring
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- the game is postponed until Saturday
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- business will be suspended while repairs are under way
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- the governor stayed the execution
Examples of defer in a Sentence
- 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 of defer from the Web
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The breaks would come from deferring the increase in real estate assessment, or the difference between the value of the vacant land and the development.
-
At bottom, deferring someone’s deportation and granting a temporary work permit is an exercise of prosecutorial discretion that presidents may invoke, and have invoked, for humanitarian reasons for decades.
-
One team might propose doing it all at once, while another defers some of the work.
-
But in summer 2015 — after oil prices collapsed and with the state facing a $3.5 billion deficit — Gov. Bill Walker began using his veto power to defer payments.
-
The State Board of Education this summer deferred until January a final decision on how to identify the rest of the bottom 5%.
-
In turn, Braindead Brewing in Dallas is holding a fundraiser at its brewpub to help her family defer expenses at 6 p.m. Friday.
-
In general, however, Martin avoids discussing the show’s current storylines — which have extended beyond the narrative scope of his five A Song of Ice and Fire novels — deferring questions to showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss.
-
Willard deferred ruling on Bradley's forced participation until the state calls him as a witness.
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.
Origin and Etymology of defer
Middle English deferren, differren, from Middle French deferer, defferer, from Late Latin deferre, from Latin, to bring down, bring, from de- + ferre to carry — more at bear
Synonym Discussion of defer
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.
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- yields too easily in any argument
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- a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God
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- officials capitulated to the protesters' demands
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- a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood
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- finally relented and let the children stay up late
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- I defer to your expertise in these matters
DEFER Defined for Kids
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for defer Spanish Central: Translation of defer Nglish: Translation of defer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defer for Arabic speakers
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