refer to
phrasal verb
referred to; referring to; refers to
1
: to look at or in (something) for information
She often refers to her notes when giving a speech.
Please refer to our website for more information.
2
: to have a direct connection or relationship to (something)
The word "finch" refers to a kind of bird.
The numbers shown in the text refer to footnotes at the bottom of the page.
3
: to talk about or write about (someone or something) especially briefly : to mention (someone or something) in speech or in writing
No one referred to the incident.
Examples of refer to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the time, they were embroiled in a high-profile college admissions scandal involving their daughters in 2019, sometimes referred to as Operation Varsity Blues.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
While Guardiola might still refer to formations as phone numbers, the use of a 4-2-3-1 appears to be dialling back up.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Dispersal refers to the idea of life spreading far, far beyond its point of origin.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Academics, educators and critics alike refer to Oklahoma as ground zero for pushing education to the right.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
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Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
While Guardiola might still refer to formations as phone numbers, the use of a 4-2-3-1 appears to be dialling back up.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Dispersal refers to the idea of life spreading far, far beyond its point of origin.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Academics, educators and critics alike refer to Oklahoma as ground zero for pushing education to the right.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refer to
Cite this Entry
“Refer to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refer%20to. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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