WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•fer /rɪˈfɜr/USA pronunciation
v., -ferred, -fer•ring.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to direct attention to:[~ + to + object]The teacher referred to chapter seven during yesterday's lecture.
- to direct (someone) to a person, place, etc., for information or anything required:[~ + object + to + object]The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote.
- to submit or send (something) to someone for decision, information, etc.:[~ + object + to + object]Please refer all your questions to the public information office.
- to consider as belonging to a certain class, group, period, etc.;
classify:[~ + to + object + as + object]The government refers to a plumber's work as a blue-collar job. - to apply to;
indicate;
mean:[~ + to + object]This new regulation does not really refer to your company.
re•fer
(ri fûr′),USA pronunciation v., -ferred, -fer•ring.
v.t.
v.i.
ref•er•a•ble, re•fer•ra•ble, re•fer•ri•ble
(ref′ər ə bəl, ri fûr′-),USA pronunciation adj.
re•fer′rer, n.
v.t.
- to direct for information or anything required:He referred me to books on astrology.
- to direct the attention or thoughts of:The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote.
- to hand over or submit for information, consideration, decision, etc.:to refer the argument to arbitration.
- to assign to a class, period, etc.; regard as belonging or related.
- to have relation;
relate;
apply.
v.i.
- to direct attention, as a reference mark does.
- to have recourse or resort;
turn, as for aid or information:to refer to one's notes. - to make reference or allusion:The author referred to his teachers twice in his article.
- Latin referre to bring back, equivalent. to re- re- + ferre to bring, bear1
- Middle English referren 1325–75
- 4. attribute, ascribe, impute. 5. pertain, belong. 8. advert, allude.