The word Defer is commonly used in the English language to indicate a delay in taking action or a decision. It is often used in professional and personal contexts to indicate the act of postponing something to a later time or date. In this article, we will explore the word defer meaning, its synonyms and antonyms, and provide some example sentences of defer to help better understand the word.
Defer Meaning in English
Defer (verb) means to delay or put off something until a later time or date. It can also mean to show respect or to yield to the opinion or authority of someone else. The meaning of defer can vary depending on the context in which it is used.
In a professional context, defer can indicate that a decision has been postponed until a later time due to incomplete information or a need for further consideration. In a personal context, defer can indicate that a task or responsibility has been delayed due to other priorities or circumstances.
Synonyms of Defer
There are many synonyms for the word “defer,” each with its own connotations and shades of meaning.
Here are ten common synonyms for defer:
- Postpone: To delay or put off until a later time or date.
- Delay: To cause to be postponed or put off.
- Hold off: To postpone or delay a decision or action.
- Put off: To delay or postpone until a later time or date.
- Reschedule: To rearrange or change the date or time of an event or appointment.
- Procrastinate: To delay or put off doing something, especially out of habit or laziness.
- Stall: To delay or hold back progress or action.
- Tarry: To delay or linger in a place or situation.
- Shelve: To postpone or set aside for later consideration.
- Suspend: To delay or interrupt temporarily
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Antonyms of Defer
Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning to a given word. The antonyms of defer include words that indicate taking immediate action or making an immediate decision.
Here are five common antonyms of defer:
- Act: To take action or make a decision immediately.
- Decide: To make a choice or decision without delay.
- Proceed: To move forward or continue without delay.
- Advance: To move forward or make progress without delay.
- Impel: To force or drive forward, often with urgency or determination.
How To Use Defer In A Sentence
Here are ten example sentences that use the word defer to better understand its meaning:
- The meeting was deferred until next week due to scheduling conflicts.
- The decision on the proposal has been deferred until we have more information.
- The project deadline was deferred to allow for additional time for development.
- The employee deferred the task to her colleague due to her workload.
- The candidate deferred her acceptance to the university until next year.
- The mayor deferred to the recommendations of the city council on the new policy.
- The judge deferred sentencing until next month due to a delay in evidence.
- The investor deferred their decision to invest until they had more information on the company.
- The athlete deferred to the coach’s expertise on the training regimen.
- The traveler deferred their vacation plans due to the pandemic.
Meaning of Defer (Video)
Explore vocabulary in English.
F.A.Q. about word Defer
Here are some frequently asked questions about the word defer in English:
Q: What does defer mean?
A: defer means to put off or postpone something to a later time or date.
Q: Can defer be used in a sentence?
A: Yes, here are a few examples:
- “I have to defer my vacation until next month.”
- “The meeting has been deferred to next week.”
- “She decided to defer her acceptance to the university for a year.”
Q: Is defer a formal word?
A: Yes, defer is a formal word that is often used in professional or academic contexts.
Q: What’s the difference between defer and delay?
A: defer and “delay” are similar in that they both involve putting something off, but defer implies a more deliberate decision to postpone something, often with the intention of addressing it later. “Delay” can be more neutral and may imply that something is being postponed due to external factors.
Q: Can defer be used in a financial context?
A: Yes, defer is often used in finance to refer to the act of delaying payment or taxes until a later date.
Q: Is defer a common word?
A: While defer may not be as common as some other words in everyday conversation, it is still widely used in a variety of contexts, including business, finance, and academia.
Q: Are there any idioms or phrases that use the word defer?
A: One common phrase is “defer to,” which means to yield to someone else’s judgment or expertise. For example, “I always defer to my accountant when it comes to taxes.”
Q: Can defer be used in a legal context?
A: Yes, defer can be used in a legal context to refer to the act of postponing a legal obligation or hearing to a later date.
Q: What is the opposite of defer?
A: The opposite of defer is “advance” or “bring forward.”
Q: Can defer be used as a noun?
A: Yes, defer can be used as a noun in some contexts. For example, in finance, a “deferred payment” refers to a payment that has been postponed until a later date.
Q: Is defer a transitive or intransitive verb?
A: defer can be either transitive or intransitive, depending on the context. For example, “I decided to defer” is an intransitive use of the word, while “I will defer my decision until later” is a transitive use.
Q: What’s the difference between defer and “relegate”?
A: While both defer and “relegate” can be used to describe putting something off or assigning it a lower priority, “relegate” often implies a more negative connotation, such as relegating something to a less important status.
Q: Can defer be used to describe a person?
A: No, defer is not typically used to describe a person. However, you could use the phrase “deferential” to describe someone who shows deference or respect to others.
Q: Are there any synonyms for defer?
A: Some synonyms for defer include postpone, delay, put off, hold off, and reschedule.
Defer Meaning in English in other sources.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the word defer in English means to put off or postpone something to a later time or date. It is a formal word that is often used in professional or academic contexts, and it can be used as a transitive or intransitive verb.
Defer can also be used in a variety of contexts, including finance, law, and everyday conversation. While it may not be as common as some other words, “defer” is still widely used and has several synonyms, including postpone, delay, put off, hold off, and reschedule. Overall, understanding the meaning and usage of defer can be helpful in communicating effectively in a variety of situations.