agreed to defer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agreed to defer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a mutual decision to postpone or delay something. Example: "After much discussion, we all agreed to defer the meeting until next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Jagr also agreed to defer $1 million a season on the rest of his contract.

The New York Times - Sports

Workers agreed to defer part of the wage increase for training dollars.

The New York Times

"Both governments agreed to defer further maritime boundary negotiations during the life of the treaty.

The Guardian

Last spring, both parties agreed to defer discussing any changes until 2013.

The New York Times - Sports

With Mr. White healed, they agreed to defer college for a year and "catch up" on their lost training months.

The New York Times

Bank lenders agreed to defer 300 million euros ($365 million) in principal payment for more than three years.

The New York Times

The Libeskinds said in their suit that they agreed to defer payment negotiations until Mr. Silverstein's insurance battle neared resolution.

The New York Times

Before this season, 10 veteran players agreed to defer more of their salaries to ease the team's financial burden.

The New York Times - Sports

The figures include compensation earned by Mr. Ford since 2008 that he agreed to defer until the company's automotive operations had returned to profitability.

The New York Times

The Justice Department agreed to defer prosecution and eventually drop conspiracy charges against the parent company, Panalpina World Transport, if it complies with antibribery statutes in the future.

The New York Times

In exchange, a majority of the company's debt holders agreed to defer some interest payments and grant relief from loan covenants.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "agreed to defer", ensure that the context clearly indicates who agreed and what is being deferred. Clarity is key to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "agreed to defer" is correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "decided to delay" or "put off" for everyday scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agreed to defer" functions as a verb phrase indicating a mutual decision to postpone something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression in English. Examples in Ludwig show its use in various contexts like negotiations, payments, and decisions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

28%

Sports

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "agreed to defer" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a mutual decision to postpone something. As Ludwig AI points out, it is perfectly correct for written English. Its formality leans towards neutral to professional, making it suitable for news, business, and official communications. While alternatives like "decided to delay" or "consented to postpone" exist, "agreed to defer" emphasizes the element of consensus in the postponement. The frequency of its usage in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its acceptance in standard English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consented to postpone

Emphasizes permission or approval for a delay, adding a layer of consent that "agreed to defer" might not explicitly convey.

decided to delay

Focuses on the decision-making aspect of delaying, highlighting the conscious choice to postpone something.

opted to table

Specifically refers to setting aside a discussion or proposal for a later time, common in formal meetings.

concurred to put off

Highlights the agreement aspect of postponing and has a slightly more informal tone than "agreed to defer".

accepted to adjourn

Implies a formal suspension or termination of a meeting or session, often with the intent to resume at a later time.

resolved to shelve

Suggests putting aside a project or plan, potentially indefinitely, indicating a stronger sense of postponement.

settled on suspending

Emphasizes a temporary halt to an activity or process, implying a planned resumption in the future.

undertook to hold over

Implies a formal commitment to postpone, often used in legal or official contexts.

determined to recess

Used primarily for temporary breaks or pauses, especially in formal settings such as courts or legislatures.

chose to prorogue

Specifically refers to discontinuing a session of a parliament or other legislative assembly without dissolving it.

FAQs

How can I use "agreed to defer" in a sentence?

You can use "agreed to defer" when you want to express a mutual decision to postpone something. For example, "The committee "agreed to defer" the decision until the next meeting".

What are some alternatives to "agreed to defer"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "decided to delay", "opted to table", or "consented to postpone".

Is it more appropriate to use "agreed to defer" or "decided to delay"?

"Agreed to defer" implies a mutual agreement to postpone, whereas "decided to delay" simply indicates a decision was made to postpone. The best choice depends on whether an agreement was involved.

What's the nuance between "agreed to defer" and "agreed to postpone"?

While similar, "agreed to postpone" is a more general term for delaying something. "Agreed to defer" often suggests delaying something with the understanding that it will be addressed at a later, more appropriate time.