defer

/dɪˈfɜː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfɜːr/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈfər/ (ame, mw)

defer — verb

  • deferpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • defershe / she / it
  • deferredpast simple
  • deferring-ing form

1. to arrange for a planned event or a scheduled action to take place at a later ti

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to arrange for a planned event or a scheduled action to take place at a later time than originally intended, especially in order to allow more preparation or to respond to a change in circumstances

例句

Mei-Lin Chen deferred her student loan application until she had a steady income.

defer + noun phrase + until + time condition

Because of the storm damage, the school board voted to defer all building projects for six months.

同義詞
  • postpone

    more common in everyday formal use; interchangeable in most contexts

  • put off

    informal; used in casual conversation rather than official documents

  • delay

    wider meaning including unwanted hold-ups; less deliberate than 'defer'

  • suspend

    implies an indefinite halt rather than a specific later date

反義詞

文法句型

defer + noun phrase

defer + noun phrase + until/to + time/event

defer + gerund phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in formal or official contexts such as payments, deadlines, legal hearings, and academic schedules. Less formal alternatives include 'put off' and 'delay', though 'delay' often carries a negative tone of unwanted holdup.

常見錯誤

❌I deferred my dentist appointment to next week because I was busy.
✅I put off my dentist appointment until next week.
💡'defer' sounds overly formal for everyday errands; use 'put off' or 'reschedule' instead.
❌The meeting was delayed until Friday.' (when the delay was intentional)
✅The meeting was deferred until Friday.
💡'delay' can mean it happened later than planned; 'defer' means the change was deliberately chosen.

2. to willingly accept another person's decision, opinion, or advice instead of ins

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to willingly accept another person's decision, opinion, or advice instead of insisting on your own, because you recognise their greater knowledge, experience, or formal position

例句

Professor Rossi refused to give an opinion on the tax case and chose to defer to the court's ruling.

defer to + institution's ruling

The board members deferred to the chief architect on all questions about the building's structural safety.

defer to + person + on + topic

同義詞
  • yield to

    similar meaning but can imply reluctance; 'defer to' emphasises respect

  • give way to

    slightly more informal, often used in arguments or disputes

  • bow to

    metaphorical; suggests accepting pressure rather than genuine respect

  • accede to

    even more formal; often used in official or diplomatic contexts

反義詞
  • overrule

    to reject someone else's authority or decision

  • challenge

    to question someone's opinion or authority rather than accepting it

文法句型

defer to + person / group / institution

defer to + someone's + noun (authority, expertise, judgment, opinion, decision)

用法筆記

This sense is ALWAYS used with the preposition 'to' — 'defer to someone/something'. Without 'to', the verb takes sense 1 (delay). Distinguish from sense 1 by checking the object: if the object is a person, institution, or opinion, this is the yield sense; if it is an event or action, it is the delay sense.

常見錯誤

❌I deferred my professor on that question.
✅I deferred to my professor on that question.
💡The preposition 'to' is required when yielding to someone's authority.
❌The manager deferred to postpone the meeting.
✅The manager deferred the meeting.' (delay sense) OR 'The manager deferred to the CEO.' (yield sense).
💡Mixing the two grammatical patterns creates confusion between the two meanings.