dynamic
toggle menu
menu
vocabulary
1000+ books

defer
in a sentence
grouped by contextual meaning

defer as in:  deferred the decision

Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • She asked to defer cross-examination until the morning.
    defer = delay
  • The IRA permits investment earnings to grow tax-deferred until retirement.
    deferred = delayed
  • Can we defer any expenses until January to make this year's profit look better?
    defer = delay
▲ show less (of above)
Show 10 more with 5 word variations
  • Woodinville won the toss, but they deferred, which meant we'd have the ball first.  (source)
    deferred = postponed
  • Sophi felt she was only deferring the problem.  (source)
    deferring = postponing
  • "He's—" Meg started, but Charles Wallace cut her short. "You'll have to defer your explanations. Let's go."  (source)
    defer = delay until a later time
  • death be long deferr'd  (source)
    deferr'd = postponed (or put off)
    unconventional spelling: This is more commonly spelled deferred.
  • ...deferment consists of keeping proceedings permanently in their earliest stages.  (source)
    Deferment = postponement
  • Punishment might be deferred . . . but never escaped.  (source)
    deferred = postponed
  • He wishes it could be otherwise. Wishes he could simply get into another cab, and ride along another highway, deferring the moment he must face them.  (source)
    deferring = postponing
  • Judith was nearly a year older than Grace and in decisions as weighty as risking the ever-ready wrath of Mrs. Dyer, Grace was happy to defer.  (source)
    defer = yield
  • for his fate was near, Due to stern Pallas, and Pelides' spear: Yet Jove deferr'd the death he was to pay, And gave what fate allow'd, the honours of a day!†  (source)
    deferr'd = postponed
  • Deferred consumption is higher among girls, and they buy durables and have higher savings rates.  (source)
▲ show less (of above)

defer as in:  deferred to her wishes

Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • He almost always defers to her wishes about which movie to see.
    defers = submits
  • I began to defer, always, to the judgment of others.  (source)
    defer = submit (or yield)
  • All captives, regardless of nationality, deferred to them.  (source)
    deferred = submitted respectfully
▲ show less (of above)
Show 10 more with 8 word variations
  • ...she deferred to anything her doctors said.  (source)
    deferred = submitted
  • I had made a pledge to myself to defer to Jai and honor her wishes.  (source)
    defer = submit my wishes to those of
  • WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR STUDENT DEFERMENT?†  (source)
  • The boy defers to his father.  (source)
    defers = submits
  • Student deferments were ending, and eighteen-year-old boys everywhere were being drafted and shipped off to the jungles of Vietnam.†  (source)
  • Juilliard had actually suggested the deferral, wanting to make sure that Mia was able to play up to the school's rigorous standards, if she chose to attend.†  (source)
  • So I asked: "Is it the case, then, that deferrals don't exist?†  (source)
  • Deferring to his slaves' opinions did not deprive him of authority or power.  (source)
    Deferring = submitting or yielding
  • We planted our own explosives in the building and then deferred to our EOD guy (explosive ordnance disposal). He positioned us...  (source)
    deferred = submitted (taking his judgment over our own)
  • it would be feckless to defer to slavery, torture, foot-binding, honor killings, or genital cutting just because we believe in respecting other faiths or cultures.  (source)
    defer = submit or yield
▲ show less (of above)