1
as in specifies
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically
try not to refer to the recent death of her aunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in goes (to)
to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage
she studied so she wouldn't have to refer to the book during the exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refers (to)
Verb
-
Trump’s 20-point plan specifies two more withdrawal phases, leaving the IDF eventually in charge of a security buffer zone.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
12 Oct. 2025 -
The dress code also specifies the type of shoes to be worn and forbids facial tattoos or more than one facial piercing.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Aside from one brief passage that mentions Pollan, the book is career-focused.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Your website mentions, and shares a link, to a study about therapeutic photography.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Once Ashley sends over everything they were given on the lawyer, Bradley notices the name of a familiar company all over it — the same one Earl, Cory’s favorite fixer, worked for.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
8 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of their version of Cinderella, the tragic stepsisters cut off the backs of their heels to try to fit into the glass slipper; the prince only notices the deception when their stockings fill with blood.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The organization also consults school district websites and letters sent to school districts and corresponds with librarians, authors and teachers.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The organization also consults school district websites and letters sent to school districts and corresponds with librarians, authors and teachers.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The report cites five anonymous sources with direct knowledge of the matter to support this information.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The complaint cites just three examples of transgender athletes on girls’ teams in Maine, including the pole-vaulter.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicates.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
This discovery indicates that the protein changes that characterize this devastating disorder are reversible in certain circumstances—hinting at new possibilities for treatment.—
Robert Martone,
Scientific American,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In place of that information, the administration now only notes that the Legislature approved $276 million in this year’s state budget for the shelter system, as well as the average amount spent on families in shelter each week and the total amount of cash spent from a shelter reserve fund.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Kirsten Eddy, a senior researcher at Pew Research Center who specializes in news and information habits, notes that the internet and social media have changed people’s attitudes toward information.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Dan Marino quotes lining the walls of Hard Rock Stadium fascinated the AD.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Hell, there’s an entire TikTok channel that just features a guy reading different Bourdain quotes over travel montages and, sometimes, Bourdain clip shows.—
Tres Dean,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Refers (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refers%20%28to%29. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share