as in to postpone
to assign to a later time
we agreed to defer a discussion of the issue until we had more information
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Recent Examples of defer
Philadelphia will defer $10 million each from his 2031 and 2032 salaries, which each will be payable in five $2 million installments.
—
CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Garcia deferred many of the reporters' questions to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates civil transportation accidents, which quickly dispatched a go-team to New York.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Had action been deferred, Iran’s rapidly increasing ballistic missile would have soon reached the point of immunity — erecting a shield of threatened destruction behind which the mullah’s nuclear program could be rebuilt.
—Chuck Devore, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
The police department, located in a 4,300-person town in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, deferred further questions to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defer
CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Garcia deferred many of the reporters' questions to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates civil transportation accidents, which quickly dispatched a go-team to New York.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Had action been deferred, Iran’s rapidly increasing ballistic missile would have soon reached the point of immunity — erecting a shield of threatened destruction behind which the mullah’s nuclear program could be rebuilt.
—Chuck Devore, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
The police department, located in a 4,300-person town in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, deferred further questions to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defer
Verb
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At a time when festivals like Sol Blume, Goldensky and Breakaway have been cancelled or postponed, citing costs or unforeseen circumstances, Channel 24 credits the Sacramento community as the key to their success.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Game postponed, Sunday doubleheader scheduled Impending rain forced the postponement of the Cubs-Guardians game Saturday at Progressive Field.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The contest was delayed for about 10 minutes in the fourth after plate umpire Ron Kulpa exited due to taking a foul ball off his mask.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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Along with Buttó, right-hander Hayden Birdsong underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery, while right-handers Joel Peguero (Grade 2 hamstring strain) and left-hander Reiver Sanmartin (right hip flexor) sustained injuries that delayed the starts to their seasons.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defer. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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