transfer

1 of 2

verb

transferred; transferring

transitive verb

1
a
: to convey from one person, place, or situation to another : move, shift
b
: to cause to pass from one to another : transmit
2
: to make over the possession or control of : convey
3
: to print or otherwise copy from one surface to another by contact

intransitive verb

1
: to move to a different place, region, or situation
especially : to withdraw from one educational institution to enroll at another
2
: to change from one vehicle or transportation line to another
transferable adjective
or less commonly transferrable
transferal noun
transferrer noun

transfer

2 of 2

noun

trans·​fer ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər How to pronounce transfer (audio)
1
a
: conveyance of right, title, or interest in real or personal property from one person to another
b
: removal or acquisition of property by mere delivery with intent to transfer title
2
a
: an act, process, or instance of transferring : transference sense 2
b
: the carryover or generalization of learned responses from one type of situation to another
3
: one that transfers or is transferred
especially : a graphic image transferred by contact from one surface to another
4
: a place where a transfer is made (as of trains to ferries or as where one form of power is changed to another)
5
: a ticket entitling a passenger on a public conveyance to continue the trip on another route

Examples of transfer in a Sentence

Verb We transferred the baby's car seat to the other car. The patient was transferred to a different hospital. transfer data on the hard drive to a disk He transferred my call to another line. The virus is transferred by mosquitoes. He transferred control of the company to his son. She was able to transfer her organizational skills to her new job. Her skills transferred well to her new job. Noun We switched to another car, and the transfer only took a few minutes. They arranged for a transfer of the prisoner to a different prison. a material that reduces heat transfer speeding up data transfer between computers We are doing everything possible to ensure a smooth transfer to the new system. a transfer by deed or will a transfer to the home office My overseas transfer has been approved.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
So her father is transferred to the surgical ward, where he is monitored by a new team of doctors. Weike Wang, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2024 Will some of those Bitcoin mining profits be transferred to the coffers of the central banks of those countries? Frank Corva, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
Hawkins High’s program was investigated in 2017, the coach fired and all the transfers stopped. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024 College football has been rapidly transforming these past few years, owing to the advent of the transfer portal and N.I.L. deals. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for transfer 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'transfer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English transferren, from Anglo-French transferrer, from Latin transferre, from trans- + ferre to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of transfer was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near transfer

Cite this Entry

“Transfer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transfer. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

transfer

1 of 2 verb
transferred; transferring
1
a
: to pass from one person, place, or situation to another
b
: to cause to pass from one to another
2
: to give over the possession or ownership of
3
: to move to a different place, region, or situation
especially : to withdraw from one school to enroll at another
4
: to change from one vehicle or transportation line to another
transferable
tran(t)s-ˈfər-ə-bəl
adjective
transferal noun

transfer

2 of 2 noun
trans·​fer ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər How to pronounce transfer (audio)
1
: a giving over of right, title, or interest in property by one person to another
2
: an act, process, or example of transferring
3
: one that transfers or is transferred
4
: a graphic image transferred by contact from one surface to another
5
: a place where a transfer is made (as from trains to ferries)
6
: a ticket permitting a passenger on a bus or train to continue the journey by another route
Etymology

Verb

Middle English transferren "to transfer," from Latin transferre (same meaning), from trans- "across, through" and ferre "to bear, carry" — related to defer entry 1, fertile

Medical Definition

transfer

noun
trans·​fer ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər How to pronounce transfer (audio)
1
2
: the carryover or generalization of learned responses from one type of situation to another see negative transfer

Legal Definition

transfer

1 of 2 transitive verb
transferred; transferring
: to cause a transfer of
transferable adjective
also transferrable
transferral
trans-ˈfər-əl
noun

transfer

2 of 2 noun
trans·​fer ˈtrans-ˌfər How to pronounce transfer (audio)
1
: a conveyance of a right, title, or interest in real or personal property from one person or entity to another
2
: a passing of something from one to another
transfer of venue
the transfer of power

More from Merriam-Webster on transfer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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