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
Anderson was referring to Anemone in his email, which is directed by Day-Lewis’s son, Ronan.
—
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
But don’t refer to them as a Provence cookie, says José Orsoni, the baker-owner of Les Navettes des Accoules, his family bakery.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Tan referred to himself as a moderate or centrist.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Trump’s response to the reporter’s brief question about Wu and World Cup games in Boston lasted less than four minutes, with a chunk of his response referring to Los Angeles’ response to the devastating wildfires that ravaged Southern California earlier this year.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refer to
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Zac Ntim, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
But don’t refer to them as a Provence cookie, says José Orsoni, the baker-owner of Les Navettes des Accoules, his family bakery.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Tan referred to himself as a moderate or centrist.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Trump’s response to the reporter’s brief question about Wu and World Cup games in Boston lasted less than four minutes, with a chunk of his response referring to Los Angeles’ response to the devastating wildfires that ravaged Southern California earlier this year.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 15 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 21 Oct. 2025.
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