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

The administration countered that foreign trade is central to Trump’s foreign policy, an area where courts traditionally defer to the executive branch. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Yet in many cases, the Supreme Court majority has shown a willingness to defer to broad claims of executive authority, particularly when national security or foreign affairs are invoked. —James Sample, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025

Because the Redhawks deferred to open the game, they were given possession as play resumed for the third quarter. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025

Avondale Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital the incident was deferred to the FBI. —Emma Bussey , Olivia Palombo, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for defer to

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