1
as in specifies
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically
try not to refer to the recent death of her aunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in goes (to)
to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage
she studied so she wouldn't have to refer to the book during the exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refers (to)
Verb
-
The law specifies the restrictions that, if respected, render an expenditure independent.—
Lawrence Lessig,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026 -
The commission also specifies that these tools must be made available free of charge.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The part purportedly written by Vazquez mentions years of ridicule and rejection — one of the few full sentences of his written in all caps.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
The report barely mentions voter concerns such as the cost of living, the conflict in Gaza and former President Joe Biden's age.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Production designer Christopher Glass matches that vibrancy with such fantastical details as a rolling ball of stressors, bills, and eviction notices that only Velvet Gang leader Corvette (Keke Palmer) sees.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
23 May 2026
-
During the search for the portrait, Pete notices that his hand has begun to fade.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
One of the people who was the most engaged, personable, and helpful was the rock climbing guide (who consults for the hotel), who spent several hours with families on the vertical wall.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
-
In practice, the CRTC routinely consults stakeholders on policy matters although the adequacy and meaningfulness of efforts to consult the general public is often contested by scholars and civil society practitioners.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Report cites segregation in Massachusetts schools A 2024 state advisory council report found that 63% of all schools in Massachusetts are segregated or intensely segregated, and that the state education department had fallen short in its oversight duties.—
Annie Ma,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
This proof might be the highest-profile math result that explicitly cites the use of an LLM—but the artificial intelligence’s work ultimately wasn’t used, and its originality is impossible to determine.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Blood Pressure May Gradually Increases Research indicates that blood pressure may increase during perimenopause.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2026
-
Ship tracking information indicates the vessel had made a recent stop at Celebration Key, the cruise line’s private island, before the incident, Cruise Hive reported.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Specifically, Goodson notes that fermentation can enhance the absorption of nutrients like B vitamins and minerals such as calcium and iron that aren’t always easily absorbed in their original form.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
-
Bees are another classic example, as 2001 research from the Journal of Experimental Biology notes.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
The story quotes unnamed sources, and neither Puig, nor Estée Lauder, gave a comment to the Spanish title.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
-
Everyone quotes the famous statistic that in the final season of Friends, the cast of six was making a million dollars per episode and that was in '90s money.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Refers (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refers%20%28to%29. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
