refer to
phrasal verb
referred to; referring to; refers to
1
: to look at or in (something) for information
She often refers to her notes when giving a speech.
Please refer to our website for more information.
2
: to have a direct connection or relationship to (something)
The word "finch" refers to a kind of bird.
The numbers shown in the text refer to footnotes at the bottom of the page.
3
: to talk about or write about (someone or something) especially briefly : to mention (someone or something) in speech or in writing
No one referred to the incident.
Examples of refer to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The star is referring to motion-capture acting, where actors wear sensors to record their movements, which is later translated into animation.
—
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 15 July 2025
Death Valley, often referred to as the hottest place on Earth, was forecast to see highs between 120 and 125.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Jones’ wit shows through in the titles of her artworks, which often refer to her experience as a person living with disabilities.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
Every gallon of bourbon production generates about 10 gallons of byproduct, referred to as stillage, according to state officials.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for refer to
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.
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 15 July 2025
Death Valley, often referred to as the hottest place on Earth, was forecast to see highs between 120 and 125.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Jones’ wit shows through in the titles of her artworks, which often refer to her experience as a person living with disabilities.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
Every gallon of bourbon production generates about 10 gallons of byproduct, referred to as stillage, according to state officials.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for refer to
Cite this Entry
“Refer to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refer%20to. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share