refer

verb

ri-ˈfər How to pronounce refer (audio)
Definition of refernext
as in to apply
to have a relation or connection I don't think that rule of play refers to this particular situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of refer Biomagnification, also called bioamplification, refers exclusively to the progressive increase in foodborne contaminants through dietary uptake and assimilation in organisms at successively higher trophic levels. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 The complaints allege that Lehane and Altman approve decisions about whether to refer safety concerns to law enforcement. — Shannon Bond, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 Martinez said the commission’s meetings would not be public, but referred questions about why to city staff. — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 The White House referred Reuters questions to the State Department. — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refer
  1. apply
  2. relate
  3. pertain
Verb
  • Fall Cool-season grasses benefit most from fertilizer applied in the fall.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Contrary to popular belief, applying ice or using a tourniquet can worsen the effects of a venomous snakebite by slowing blood flow.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of apply
Verb
  • Neiman speculates that polyploidy and the snail’s unusual reproductive strategies are related.
    — Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Though theories implicated everyone from rival rapper Biggie Smalls to Knight’s wife Sharitha — neither of whom was ever charged in connection with the murder — investigators long suspected the killing was gang-related.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of relate
Verb
  • While sections pertaining to the house itself are both gripping and eerie (rooms flood, tiles rearrange, visions flicker), the real terror comes from human history.
    — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • To successfully integrate these returnees, Damascus must empower governorates and municipalities with the resources and autonomy to solve problems pertaining to service delivery, job creation, and education in real time.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of pertain

Phrases Containing refer

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Cite this Entry

“Refer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refer. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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