1. to postpone or delay something to a later time
推遲，延後
We decided to defer the meeting until next week.
我們決定將會議推遲到下周。
He deferred his university studies to travel for a year.
他將大學學業延後一年，先去旅行。
Defer Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
defer
verb
快速理解
What does "Defer" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Defer"?
「defer」主要有兩個核心含義：推遲行動或決定，以及出於尊重而遵從他人意見。
- 1
延後、推遲
EN: to postpone or delay an action or decision to a later time
翻譯: 將某個行動或決定延後到更晚的時間。
- 2
遵從、聽從
EN: to yield or submit to the opinion, judgment, or wishes of another, often out of respect
翻譯: 出於尊重，服從或順從他人的意見、判斷或意願。
- 3
延期付款
EN: to arrange to make a payment at a later date
翻譯: 安排將款項延後支付。
小提醒：注意「defer」的兩個主要意思差別很大。一個是「推遲某事」，另一個是「遵從某人」。在句子中，通常可以從其後的介系詞來判斷：推遲某事用「defer something」，而遵從某人則用「defer to someone」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Defer" in English）
How to pronounce "Defer" in English?"Defer" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Defer" from YouTube Videos
Tim Brown: Tales of creativity and play
TED
“But it’s hard to break our habits, our adult habits. At IDEO we have brainstorming rules written on the walls, Edicts like "Defer judgment" or "Go for quantity", And somehow that seems wrong.”
(1 out of 2)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Defer"?How does "Defer" change by context?
2. to yield or submit to the opinion or decision of another, especially out of respect
遵從，聽從（尤指出於尊重）
I defer to your expertise on this technical matter.
在這個技術問題上，我聽從您的專業意見。
The junior members of the committee deferred to the chairperson's judgment.
委員會的初級成員遵從了主席的判斷。
3. to arrange to make a payment at a later date
延期支付
The bank allowed him to defer his loan payments for six months.
銀行允許他延期六個月償還貸款。
You can choose to defer the tuition fees until after graduation.
你可以選擇將學費延期到畢業後再支付。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Defer"?How to make natural sentences with "Defer"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| defer + noun | 延後（某事） | The committee decided to defer the decision. (委員會決定延後這項決定。) |
| defer + V-ing | 延後（做某事） | He deferred paying the bill until the next month. (他將付款延後到下個月。) |
| defer to + noun (person/authority) | 遵從，聽從（某人或權威） | On technical matters, I defer to the experts. (在技術問題上，我聽從專家的意見。) |
用法說明
How is "Defer" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Defer"?
defer doing vs defer to do
- defer doing 是正確的用法，表示「推遲做某事」，其中
defer是及物動詞，後面直接接動名詞 (gerund) 作受詞。 - defer to do 是錯誤的結構。
defer後面不能接不定詞 (to-infinitive) 來表示推遲的動作。 - 當
defer表示「遵從、聽從」時，會使用 defer to + 某人/某事物 的結構，例如defer to someone's judgment。
對比範例： EN: The committee decided to defer making a final decision until next month. 翻譯: 委員會決定將最終決議推遲到下個月。
EN:The committee decided to defer to make a final decision.
翻譯:(錯誤用法，不應使用不定詞)
EN:In technical matters, I defer to the engineers.
翻譯:在技術問題上，我聽從工程師的意見。
EN:I defer to handle technical matters.
翻譯:(錯誤用法，語意不清)
總結建議
建議記住 defer 作「推遲」解時，其正確句型為 defer + V-ing，避免使用 defer to do 的錯誤結構。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Defer" and similar words?How to choose "Defer" vs alternatives?
defer vs postpone
「defer」通常指將決定、行動或責任推遲到未來某個不確定的時間，常涉及主觀意願或禮貌性的延遲；「postpone」則更常指將已安排好的事件、會議或活動正式改期到一個確定的未來時間。
defer vs delay
「defer」通常是有意、主動的推遲，可能出於策略、尊重或等待更多資訊；「delay」則更常指因意外障礙、問題或效率低下而導致的被動延誤，常帶有負面意涵。
defer vs suspend
「defer」指推遲到未來某個時間點再進行；「suspend」則指暫時、無限期地停止或中止某活動、權利或狀態，何時恢復可能不明確。
口語用法
How is "Defer" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Defer"?
引述
在對話中，當引述或轉述他人要求延期的請求時，常用 "defer to" 或 "deferred" 的被動形式。 EN: She said, "Let's defer the meeting until everyone can attend." 翻譯: 她說：「我們把會議延期到大家都能參加為止吧。」
EN:He kept deferring to his boss's schedule, so we never settled on a date.
翻譯:他一直遷就他老闆的行程，所以我們始終沒定下日期。
語氣強調
在非正式對話中，會用一些副詞或短語來加強 "defer" 的語氣，表達無奈、勉強或堅決。 EN: I'm just going to have to defer to your judgment on this one, okay? 翻譯: 這件事我恐怕只能聽從你的判斷了，好吧？
EN:We absolutely cannot defer this decision any longer.
翻譯:我們絕對不能再推遲這個決定了。
停頓填充
在即時對話中組織思緒時，"defer" 相關的片語可能作為填充停頓的一部分，尤其是當說話者在考慮選項時。 EN: So, our options are to decide now or... defer to a later time. 翻譯: 所以，我們的選擇是要麼現在決定，要麼… 延後再議。
EN:What I think we should do is — well — defer the payment, if possible.
翻譯:我認為我們應該做的是 — 嗯 — 如果可能的話，延後付款。
正式書寫注意：在正式書面語（如報告、合約、學術論文）中，應避免使用口語中的停頓填充詞或過於隨意的語氣強調詞。直接使用 "defer"、"defer to" 或 "deferment" 即可，以保持專業和精準。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Defer"?What fixed phrases with "Defer" should I remember?
defer to someone
defer to [person/authority]
聽從（某人）的意見；尊重（某人）的決定；將決定權交給（某人）
defer a decision
defer a/the [decision/judgment]
推遲做出決定
defer payment
defer [payment/taxes/income]
延期付款；遞延支付
defer gratification
defer gratification
延遲滿足；暫緩享樂
defer action
defer [action/proceedings]
暫緩採取行動；推遲程序
defer indefinitely
defer [something] indefinitely
無限期推遲
defer to experience
defer to [experience/judgment/expertise]
尊重（某人的）經驗/判斷/專業
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Defer"?Which "Defer" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I will defer my decision to next week.
✓I will defer my decision until next week.
使用 "defer" 時，表示延遲到某個時間點，通常搭配 "until" 或 "to" 加上一個具體時間點。但 "to next week" 不自然，應使用 "until next week" 或 "to next week's meeting" 等具體事件。
×He deferred his boss for the final decision.
✓He deferred to his boss for the final decision.
"defer" 表示「遵從、聽從」時，是不及物動詞，必須搭配介系詞 "to"，後面接人或權威。
×We deferred the meeting.
✓We postponed the meeting.
"defer" 通常用於較正式或官方的場合，表示「正式延後」。在一般口語中，表示「延期」更常用 "postpone" 或 "put off"。使用 "defer" 可能聽起來過於正式或不自然。
×She deferred to answer the question.
✓She deferred answering the question.
"defer" 作為「延遲」解時，是及物動詞，後面應接名詞或動名詞 (V-ing)，而非不定詞 (to V)。
×I defer my trip because of the weather.
✓I am deferring my trip because of the weather.
描述因當前情況而「正在推遲」某個計劃時，應使用現在進行式，強調暫時的決定或正在發生的動作。一般現在式 "defer" 聽起來像一個固定不變的習慣或政策。
×You can defer to pay later.
✓You can defer payment until later.
"defer" 的常見用法是接一個名詞作為受詞（如 decision, payment, action）。雖然語意上接近 "delay paying"，但 "defer" 的典型搭配是名詞，而非動詞片語。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Defer"?What are tense/participle forms of "Defer"?
defers(3rd_singular)deferring(present_participle)deferred(past)deferred(past_participle)