defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

defer action/a decision The committee decided to defer a decision on the takeover bid until a later date.

(foll by: to) to yield (to) or comply (with) the wishes or judgments of another: I defer to your superior knowledge.

DEFER meaning: 1 : to choose to do (something) at a later time; 2 : to allow (someone else) to decide or choose something

Defer definition: To put off; postpone.

Definition of defer verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Dec 14, 2025 · defer (third-person singular simple present defers, present participle deferring, simple past and past participle deferred) (transitive) To delay or postpone. quotations

These verbs mean to put off until a later time: deferred paying the bills; postponing our trip; shelved the issue; suspending train service. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth …

DEFER definition: to put off (action, consideration, etc.) to a future time. See examples of defer used in a sentence.

Defer means to put off or delay. You can try to defer the inevitable by pushing “snooze” and falling back asleep, but eventually you're going to have to get up. If you're excellent at pushing things to a later …