How to Use refer in a Sentence

refer

verb
  • Most of the patients we see here were referred by other doctors.
  • How can doctors refer patients for treatment without examining them first?
  • That is a nod to the stock’s fans who refer to themselves as apes.
    — Gunjan Banerji, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022
  • The stars refer to the record five World Cup titles that Brazil has won.
    — Bry'onna Mention, Essence, 30 Sep. 2022
  • In any case, Truss is on what the Brits refer to as a sticky wicket.
    — John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022
  • Perhaps ka does not refer to the past, but rather to the future.
    — Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 3 Jan. 2022
  • Others still refer to it as the Moon before Yule or the Oak Moon.
    — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 Dec. 2021
  • And those works refer to the Second World War and Korea.
    — Robert Zubrin, National Review, 15 Feb. 2022
  • Marriott has referred the matter to Booking.com, and Booking.com will not help me.
    — Christopher Elliott, King Features Syndicate, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
  • Barrett has the option to act alone or refer the matter to the full court.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2023
  • The idea of five days in which the police refer 911 calls unsettles her.
    — Maria Cramer Amir Hamja, New York Times, 4 June 2023
  • First of all, those who still refer to the old theory need to know it’s been debunked and adopt the new.
    — Liz Guthridge, Forbes, 21 June 2022
  • Roberts could act on the application alone or refer it to the full court for a vote.
    — Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
  • So the trick was to not play up the comedy but to have that music refer back to who this guy is.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 June 2022
  • Founders refer other founders, and the same goes for other key hires.
    — Glenn Solomon, Forbes, 11 Nov. 2022
  • The fair’s title refers the 54 countries on the African continent.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes, 7 May 2023
  • Undertones refer to the hue or tone present within the skin.
    — Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 11 Oct. 2022
  • The name refers to the Turkish people, a name used to refer to those living in the region since at least the Middle Age.
    — Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 2 June 2022
  • The law office, contacted about the lawsuit, referred The Courant to the statement.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2025
  • Suarez referred questions to the super PAC and Starboard.
    — Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2024
  • The airline referred further questions about the incident to the NTSB.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN, 18 Feb. 2024
  • DuPont referred inquiries to Chemours, the company that was spun off in 2015.
    — Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 28 May 2024
  • The State Department referred a request for comment to the White House.
    — Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The teenager then detailed the abuse to a staff member at her high school who referred her to the principal.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
  • The basis of this theory refers back to something maître d' Elsa told the guests early on in the movie.
    — Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Your real voice builds a tribe of believers who buy from you, hire you, and refer you.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Christ’s followers knew this could not refer to a man who was only a man.
    — WSJ, 28 Dec. 2021
  • Mustapha referred the Times to a handful of patients who raved about his treatment.
    — Katie Thomas, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023
  • All who know her — and even those who don’t — are compelled to refer to her simply as Anna.
    — Washington Post, 10 May 2022
  • When asked for comment, an Amazon spokesperson referred NPR to the organizers' statement.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 June 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'refer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: