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Glite Dictionary
🗣️ To mention ➡️ To send for help 📖 To consult 🔗 To relate to 🏷️ To call by name
to refer

to refer

324 3.0
Send someone to another person for help, information or a decision
  • verb
  • /rɪˈfɜr/
translation icon : derivar a
  • Henry Kessler referred me to you.
  • refer patients
  • refer students
  • refer clients

Can you not just refer me to PT?

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Examples

  • That I'll refer you to what I said earlier.

  • Please refer all queries to your personal assistant.

    Blank (2022)

  • Alternatively, one hospital's health care providers may refer or transfer patients to another hospital.

    Academic text (2011)

  • However, community college students who are referred to remedial coursework make up a very diverse group.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Susan, a 10-year-old fourth grader, was referred by her teacher for depressive symptoms and poor school performance.

    Academic text (2011)

  • When someone needs legal assistance, I often refer them to a trusted attorney.

  • The teacher will refer students to the guidance counselor for support with college applications.

  • After the initial consultation, the doctor decided to refer the patient to a specialist for further evaluation.

Synonyms

to relegate
vsto refer
  • Formal
4 6.7

Send a matter or problem to another person to decide

is broader, used to direct people or items for help or decisions
to remit
vsto refer
  • Formal
1 7.6

To send a case to another group or court for a decision

is more general, used for people or places beyond legal decision contexts

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Direct

to transfer
528 2.7
to send
∞ 1.0
to refer
324 3.0
to recommend
∞ 2.1
to suggest
∞ 1.6
mention
220 2.5

Surface Forms

refer infinitive
referred past
referred past participle
referring present participle
refers third person singular

Etymology

Refer comes from the Latin parts re- 'back' and ferre 'to carry', the same root you see in transfer. So to refer someone is like 'sending' or 'carrying' them on to another person or place for help.