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to defer to
[phrase form: defer]
01
to accept or agree to follow someone's decision, opinion, or authority, often out of respect or recognition of their expertise or position
Transitive
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Action verb
Regular
Inseparable
Particle
to
Base verb
defer
Present tense
defer to
3rd person singular
defers to
Present participle
deferring to
Past simple
deferred to
Past participle
deferred to
Examples
The team chose to defer to the senior researcher's expertise in designing the experiment.
02
to refer to or rely on someone or something with more expertise, responsibility, or jurisdiction, typically to handle a matter
Examples
During team discussions, members often defer to the project manager for direction and decision-making.
03
to agree to uphold established customs, practices, or rituals, typically out of respect for their historical or cultural importance
Examples
In matters of protocol, diplomats often defer to the customs of the host country.
