confer with

USAGE SUMMARY

"confer with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean when two or more people discuss a topic together. Example sentence: We need to confer with the other department heads before making any decisions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Periodically, Rosemary left me alone in the conference room and went to confer with him.

The New Yorker

Conferences and small meetings offer students ample opportunities to meet and confer with their academic peers.

Science Magazine

I don't have to confer with anyone".

The New York Times

He stopped to confer with Mariano Rivera.

The New York Times - Sports

"We'll confer with each other," Mr. Smith said.

The New York Times

The secretary will also confer with President Svetozar Marovic.

The New York Times

Confer with your manager about how to handle your workload.

The New York Times

He said he would confer with his teammates and coaches.

The New York Times

An interesting moment because Yellen paused to confer with aides.

The Guardian - Business

The captain disappeared briefly to confer with the harbor authorities.

The New York Times

The Pope refused to confer with him again or give a mass at Malacañang Palace.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for international audiences, remember that the level of formality conveyed by "confer with" may differ slightly across cultures. Be aware of cultural expectations for communication.

Common error

While "confer with" is appropriate in formal contexts, avoid using it in casual conversation where simpler alternatives like "talk to" or "chat with" would be more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "confer with" functions as a transitive verb, indicating an action of consulting or discussing something with another person or group of people. Ludwig shows its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science & Research

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confer with" is a phrasal verb that means to consult or discuss something with someone. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news, science, and formal business contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to formal settings, and alternatives like "talk to" or "discuss with" may be more appropriate in casual conversation. Its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and broad acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consult with

Emphasizes seeking advice or expertise from someone.

discuss with

Highlights the exchange of ideas on a specific topic.

talk with

A more general term for having a conversation.

speak with

Similar to talk with, but can imply a more formal setting.

liaise with

Suggests establishing a working relationship for communication.

seek counsel from

Emphasizes seeking guidance or advice.

touch base with

An informal way to say check in or have a brief discussion.

debrief with

Suggests a structured discussion following an event or activity.

get in touch with

Implies initiating communication for a specific purpose.

have a word with

Suggests a private and potentially important conversation.

FAQs

What does "confer with" mean?

"Confer with" means to consult or discuss something with someone in order to make a decision or exchange opinions.

How to use "confer with" in a sentence?

Example: "The manager needs to "consult with" the team before making any changes to the project."

What can I say instead of "confer with"?

You can use alternatives like ""consult with"", "talk with", or "discuss with" depending on the context.

Is "confer with" formal or informal?

"Confer with" tends to be more formal. In informal settings, phrases like "talk to" or "chat with" may be more appropriate.