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 work refers to a relatively recent imperialist intervention by the US in the Caribbean: President Lyndon Johnson’s military action in the Dominican Republic in 1965 during the country’s civil war. —María Elena Ortiz, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025

Premium large format screens, often referred to as PLFs, are elevated viewing experiences that come with a higher ticket price. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025

In a phone interview early Sunday with NBC News, Trump referred to comments Putin made Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. —The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 2025

Corrections refer to drops of at least 10%, with bear markets defined as declines of 20% or greater. —Russ Wiles, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for refer to

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue