refer
refer — verb
1. when a doctor or healthcare professional sends a patient to see a medical specia
when a doctor or healthcare professional sends a patient to see a medical specialist or to go to a hospital for further examination or treatment
The nurse practitioner referred Lan to a cardiologist after the ECG showed an irregular heartbeat.
active: refer + object + to + specialist
Patients with severe back pain are often referred to the orthopaedic clinic for an MRI scan.
passive: be referred to + clinic for + purpose
Eitan's dentist referred him to an oral surgeon to have his wisdom teeth removed.
If the test results are worrying, the hospital will refer the child directly to the paediatric oncology unit.
文法句型
refer + object + to + specialist/institution
be referred to + person/hospital/clinic
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be referred to). The subject of the active form is typically a doctor, nurse, or medical professional. This sense is distinct from sense 2 (DIRECT TO SOURCE), which applies to non-medical contexts like customer service or administrative matters.
常見錯誤
2. to tell someone to contact or go to a different person, department, organisation
to tell someone to contact or go to a different person, department, organisation, or place where they can get the help, information, or decision they need
Aylin called the main office, but they referred her to the human resources department.
active: refer + object + to + department
The customer service team referred Christopher to the online refund portal to process his request.
refer + object + to + place + purpose clause
Complaints about late deliveries should be referred to the logistics manager within 24 hours.
The immigration lawyer referred the family to a community aid organisation that offers free legal advice.
文法句型
refer + object + to + person/organisation/place
be referred to + department/service
用法筆記
Like sense 1, this sense uses the pattern 'refer + object + to + destination'. The difference is context: sense 1 is medical; sense 2 is administrative, customer-service, or general. Common in professional emails and business communication. Often used in the passive to sound neutral and official.
常見錯誤
3. to mention or speak about someone or something, often briefly or in a general wa
to mention or speak about someone or something, often briefly or in a general way, without giving full details
During the meeting, Élise referred to the budget cuts three times without offering any solutions.
refer + to + noun phrase
The article referred to the protest as a peaceful demonstration, though local media called it a riot.
refer + to + noun phrase + as + noun phrase
Nobody in the family ever referred to the argument that happened at Grandma's birthday party.
Vivek referred briefly to his childhood in Mumbai when the interviewer asked about his background.
文法句型
refer + to + noun phrase
refer + to + noun phrase + as + noun phrase
用法筆記
Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense is intransitive — the verb takes no direct object. You must say 'refer to something' (not 'refer something'). Common in both speech and writing. The phrase 'refer to something/someone as…' adds a naming or describing function, overlapping with sense 6 (CLASSIFY AS) but with less formality.
常見錯誤
4. to be about or directly connected with a particular person, thing, situation, or
to be about or directly connected with a particular person, thing, situation, or topic
This new regulation refers only to businesses with more than fifty employees.
refer only to + noun phrase (scope marker)
The judge explained that the defendant's previous conviction did not refer to the current case.
Gabriela's question referred to the second chapter of the textbook, not the first one.
The data in the spreadsheet refers to sales figures from the last quarter of 2024.
文法句型
refer + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Not used in continuous (progressive) tenses — you cannot say 'is referring to' in this sense. Distinguish from sense 3 (MENTION OR ALLUDE): sense 3 describes the act of speaking about something; sense 4 describes an inherent connection or relevance. For example, 'He referred to the contract' (sense 3 — he mentioned it in conversation) vs 'This clause refers to the contract' (sense 4 — this clause is connected to the contract).
常見錯誤
5. to look at a book, document, map, website, or other source in order to find info
to look at a book, document, map, website, or other source in order to find information or check something
Anong referred to the train timetable to check whether there was a later connection to Taipei.
refer + to + source + for/to + purpose
If you are unsure about the spelling, please refer to the dictionary on the shelf near the window.
The technician kept referring to the instruction manual while assembling the new printer.
Students should refer to the course website for the full reading list and assignment deadlines.
文法句型
refer + to + noun phrase (book/map/note/document)
refer + to + noun phrase + for + information
用法筆記
This sense is commonly used in academic and professional contexts. The source is typically a written reference (dictionary, manual, map, website, notes). Unlike 'consult', which can take a direct object ('consult the dictionary'), 'refer' always needs 'to'. 'Look up' is the informal equivalent.
常見錯誤
❌ 'Refer to page 12 for more details.' is correct. — Some learners overuse 'refer' where 'see' or 'check' would be more natural in informal speech.
6. to regard or describe someone or something as belonging to a particular type, gr
to regard or describe someone or something as belonging to a particular type, group, or category, often based on a shared characteristic or scientific principle
In biology class, both dolphins and whales are referred to as marine mammals, not fish.
passive: be referred to as + category
Linguists often refer to Taiwanese Hokkien and Cantonese as Chinese regional languages rather than dialects.
active: refer + to + noun + as + classification
The building's architectural style is referred to as Neo-Gothic because of its pointed arches and tall spires.
Gabriela's research paper refers to social media influencers as digital entrepreneurs rather than celebrities.
- classify as
more direct and scientific; emphasises systematic grouping
- describe as
broader; not limited to categories or groups
- categorise as
very similar; slightly more technical
文法句型
be referred to + as + noun phrase
refer + to + noun phrase + as + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically used in formal or academic writing. The passive construction 'be referred to as…' is far more common than the active form. Distinguish from sense 3 (MENTION OR ALLUDE): sense 3 is about mentioning something in passing, while sense 6 is about assigning a category or label. For instance, 'She referred to him as a friend' (sense 3 — she called him a friend in conversation) vs 'The species is referred to the genus Felis' (sense 6 — it is categorised under that genus taxonomically).