Explanation at your level:
You use confer when you talk to people to make a plan. You can say, 'I will confer with my teacher.' It means you ask for advice or share ideas. It is a very polite and smart word to use!
When you have a problem, you might confer with your friends to find an answer. It is like having a meeting. Also, a school can confer a prize on a student who did great work. It is a formal way to say 'give'.
In business or school, you often need to confer with colleagues. This means you are discussing important things to reach a decision. It is more formal than 'chat'. You can also confer a title or a degree on someone, which is a big, official event.
The verb confer carries two distinct meanings. First, it implies a collaborative effort, such as 'conferring with experts' to solve a complex issue. Second, it is used in formal contexts to describe the act of bestowing an honor or title upon a person. It is a high-register word often found in news reports or academic documents.
Confer is frequently used in professional and academic discourse. When you 'confer' with someone, you are engaging in a deliberate exchange of information, often to mitigate risk or ensure consensus. When used in the sense of 'bestowing', it carries a sense of gravity and legitimacy, such as when a state confers citizenship or a university confers a doctorate.
The etymological depth of confer—derived from the Latin conferre—highlights its dual nature: bringing ideas together or bringing an honor to a recipient. Its usage requires a keen sense of register; using it in casual conversation can sound overly pedantic or ironic. Mastery of this word involves understanding the prepositional requirements: 'confer with' for consultation, and 'confer upon' for the bestowal of honors or rights.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Confer means to discuss or consult.
- It also means to bestow an honor.
- Use 'confer with' for people.
- Use 'confer upon' for honors.
The word confer is a versatile verb that bridges the gap between casual conversation and formal ceremony. At its heart, it describes the act of consultation—when you and a group of people put your heads together to solve a problem or make a choice.
Beyond just talking, confer has a weightier, official meaning. In academic or professional settings, it is used when an authority figure bestows a degree or honor. Think of a graduation ceremony where a university president confers a diploma upon a student. It implies a sense of official recognition and importance.
The word confer has deep roots in Latin. It comes from the word conferre, which is a combination of con- (meaning 'together') and ferre (meaning 'to bring'). Essentially, it meant 'to bring together.'
Historically, this makes perfect sense! Whether you are bringing ideas together in a meeting or bringing a title to a deserving recipient, the core concept remains the act of gathering or bestowing. It entered English in the 15th century, evolving from the Old French conferer, and has maintained its dual nature of discussion and bestowal ever since.
When using confer, keep the context in mind. If you are talking about a meeting, you usually confer with someone. For example, 'I need to confer with my manager before I sign this contract.'
When talking about honors, the structure changes. You confer something on/upon someone. For instance, 'The university will confer an honorary degree upon the scientist.' It is a formal word, so you wouldn't use it to describe a casual chat with a friend over coffee; you would save it for professional or significant moments.
While confer itself is a formal verb, it is often associated with idioms regarding communication:
- Put heads together: To confer to solve a problem.
- Call a huddle: A quick, informal way to confer.
- Compare notes: To confer by sharing information.
- Hammer out: To confer until an agreement is reached.
- Clear the air: To confer to remove misunderstandings.
Confer is a regular verb with the past tense conferred. Note the double 'r'—this happens because the stress is on the second syllable. The IPA for British English is /kənˈfɜːr/ and for American English is /kənˈfɜr/.
It is almost always used as a transitive verb when bestowing honors, and as an intransitive verb (followed by 'with') when discussing. It rhymes with refer, defer, prefer, transfer, and deter. Remember the stress pattern: con-FER, not CON-fer.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'ferry'—both come from 'ferre' (to carry).
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'con-FUR'
Sounds like 'con-FUR'
Common Errors
- Stressing the first syllable
- Pronouncing it like 'con-fire'
- Forgetting the double r in past tense
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Formal
Formal
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
Confer a degree
Prepositional Verbs
Confer with
Past Tense Spelling
Conferred
Examples by Level
I will confer with my mom.
I will talk to my mom.
Use 'with' for people.
We confer about the game.
We talk about the game.
Use 'about' for topics.
They confer in the room.
They meet in the room.
Verb usage.
Please confer with him.
Please talk to him.
Imperative form.
Did you confer today?
Did you have a meeting?
Past tense question.
We need to confer.
We need to discuss.
Infinitive verb.
I confer with the team.
I talk to the team.
Present tense.
They confer often.
They talk often.
Frequency adverb.
I must confer with the teacher about my grade.
The leaders will confer to end the war.
They confer every morning at nine.
The judge will confer with the jury.
Please confer with your partner on this task.
We confer to make the best choice.
He likes to confer with experts.
The committee will confer later today.
The doctors will confer to discuss the patient's treatment.
The university will confer an honorary degree upon the activist.
I need to confer with my lawyer before signing.
They conferred for hours before reaching a deal.
The king conferred a knighthood upon the soldier.
She conferred with her colleagues regarding the project.
We should confer with the finance department first.
The board conferred to decide the new policy.
The president conferred with his advisors regarding the crisis.
They conferred a special status upon the historical site.
After conferring with the staff, she changed her mind.
The award was conferred upon the winner at the ceremony.
It is wise to confer with those who have more experience.
The committee conferred to resolve the scheduling conflict.
They conferred their blessing on the new union.
We will confer with the client to finalize the design.
The committee conferred to deliberate on the proposed changes.
The state will confer citizenship upon the long-term residents.
He conferred with the board to ensure full compliance.
The title was conferred upon him in recognition of his service.
They conferred at length, seeking a mutually beneficial outcome.
The university confers degrees upon graduates annually.
She conferred with the experts to validate her findings.
The power to confer honors rests with the director.
The monarch conferred the title of Duke upon his youngest son.
They conferred in hushed tones, wary of being overheard.
The institution confers a sense of prestige upon its members.
Having conferred with the elders, the chief made his decision.
The rights conferred by the treaty are legally binding.
They conferred to iron out the remaining discrepancies.
The honor was conferred upon her with great solemnity.
He conferred with his conscience before making the choice.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Put heads together"
To confer to solve a problem
Let's put our heads together.
casual"Go into a huddle"
To confer briefly
The team went into a huddle.
casual"Compare notes"
To confer by sharing info
We compared notes on the trip.
neutral"Talk shop"
To confer about work
We shouldn't talk shop at dinner.
casual"Hammer out"
To confer until agreement
They hammered out a deal.
neutral"Clear the air"
To confer to fix issues
We need to clear the air.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar sound
Refer means to mention; confer means to discuss.
I referred to the book; I conferred with the boss.
Similar sound
Defer means to postpone.
We deferred the meeting.
Similar sound
Prefer means to like more.
I prefer tea.
Similar sound
Transfer means to move.
I transferred the file.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + confer + with + object
I will confer with my boss.
Subject + confer + object + upon + object
They conferred a title upon him.
Subject + confer + about + topic
We conferred about the budget.
Infinitive + confer
They need to confer.
Passive voice
The honor was conferred upon her.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
You confer WITH a person.
Use 'upon' or 'on' for honors.
You don't confer a meeting.
Confer is too formal for friends.
Ensure spelling is correct.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a graduation stage.
Professional Email
Use it to sound polite.
Academic Tradition
Used in every graduation.
Preposition Check
With vs Upon.
Stress the end
con-FER.
Don't use for small talk
Too formal.
Latin Roots
Con + Ferre.
Group Study
Use it when meeting to study.
Verb Patterns
Transitive vs Intransitive.
Rhyme List
Refer, Prefer, Confer.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Con-FER = Bring the ideas to the FUR (a meeting).
Visual Association
A university president placing a hood on a graduate.
Word Web
Challenge
Use 'confer' in a professional email today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To bring together
Cultural Context
None, but can sound pretentious if used in everyday life.
Commonly used in academic and legal settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Work
- confer with team
- confer with manager
- confer on strategy
School
- confer a degree
- confer with teacher
- confer on project
Law
- confer rights
- confer power
- confer status
Ceremony
- confer an award
- confer a title
- confer honors
Conversation Starters
"Who do you usually confer with when making big decisions?"
"Have you ever seen someone have a degree conferred upon them?"
"Why is it important to confer with others before deciding?"
"Do you prefer to confer in person or via email?"
"What is the most prestigious honor you have heard conferred?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to confer with someone to solve a problem.
If you could have a special title conferred upon you, what would it be?
Why do you think the word 'confer' is used for both talking and giving awards?
Reflect on a group project where you had to confer frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsMostly, yes.
It is better to say 'chat' or 'talk'.
Yes, conferred.
Conference is the noun for the meeting.
It means to give an honor.
You can 'consult your conscience'.
Only in professional settings.
Stress rules in English.
Test Yourself
I will ___ with my boss.
Confer means to talk/consult.
Which means to give an honor?
Confer can mean to bestow.
You confer with a degree.
You confer a degree on someone.
Word
Meaning
Different prepositions change the meaning.
Subject + verb + preposition + object.
The university will ___ a degree.
Universities confer degrees.
Which is a synonym for confer in a formal context?
Bestow is a high-register synonym.
Conferring is a casual activity.
It is generally formal.
They conferred the honor upon him.
What is the root of confer?
It comes from Latin 'conferre'.
Score: /10
Summary
Confer is a versatile word used to consult with others or formally bestow an honor.
- Confer means to discuss or consult.
- It also means to bestow an honor.
- Use 'confer with' for people.
- Use 'confer upon' for honors.
Memory Palace
Imagine a graduation stage.
Professional Email
Use it to sound polite.
Academic Tradition
Used in every graduation.
Preposition Check
With vs Upon.
Example
I need to confer with my family before I decide to take the job.
Related Content
Learn it in Context
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