1
as in to specify
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 to go (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 refer (to)
Verb
-
Musk did not specify the context in which Trump is allegedly in the files.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025 -
The department did not specify exactly how many people were in custody as of Friday afternoon.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Beyond the glitter, the ingredient list is worth mentioning.—
Celeste Polanco,
Essence,
3 June 2025
-
In April 2024, Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill banning the release of chemicals into the air, however, the bill did not explicitly mention chemtrails.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
They’ve even been known to consult a feng shui expert or two.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
-
Individuals from the affected countries who have already purchased tickets to travel to the U.S. should consult with their airlines and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Karen Walsh began to notice a change in her husband back in 2017.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
30 May 2025
-
Other journalists noticed a drop-off in performance for the convertibles, and probably more so than the mild weight gains of just about 100 lbs (45 kg) might suggest.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Heye, the veteran GOP official, cited the case of Reince Priebus, Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, who found out Trump fired him on a rainy airport Tarmac in 2017 after traveling with the President on Air Force One.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
-
Earlier this year, then-Fire Chief Kristin Crowley cited disabled engines, and a lack of mechanics, as one reason why fire officials did not dispatch more personnel to Pacific Palisades before the Jan. 7 fire.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
Generally, during the summer months, dew points of 55 degrees or lower indicate a dry and comfortable feel.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2025
-
That study, which reviewed data from 2009 to 2014, indicated that 8.7 million U.S. children – or roughly 1 in 8 – lived with a parent, or parents, with substance use disorder.—
Ty Schepis,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Allen also noted the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake that struck the heart of the Bay Area and killed 30 people.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
-
Again, in 2020, when devastating earthquakes rocked the island, Dávila Pernas notes in the ad, Cuomo was back on Puerto Rico with National Guard troops to help local leaders rebuild.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Though no figures are quoted in terms of salary, the five-year deal is said to entail a bonus if the shotstopper becomes a full Spain international.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
According to The Guardian, PA Media quoted a man named Harry Rashid who witnessed the collision while attending the parade with his family.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
26 May 2025
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
“Refer (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refer%20%28to%29. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share