What Is Another Way to Say “Refer To”?

Looking for synonyms for refer to? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say refer to.

  • Allude to
  • Mention
  • Cite
  • Invoke
  • Point to
  • Indicate
  • Bring up
  • Note
  • Quote
  • Speak of
  • Touch on
  • Address
  • Refer
  • Make reference to
  • Hint at
  • Imply
  • Suggest
  • Name
  • Identify
  • Acknowledge

Want to learn how to say refer to professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Allude to

Use when indirectly mentioning something.
Example: “In the meeting, she alluded to the possibility of organizational changes.”

2. Mention

Appropriate for casually or briefly referring to something.
Example: “During the presentation, he mentioned the need for better cybersecurity measures.”

3. Cite

Used for formally mentioning as evidence or justification.
Example: “The report cites several studies on consumer behavior trends.”

4. Invoke

Ideal for referencing something to support an argument or idea.
Example: “She invoked the company’s past success as a rationale for expanding the project.”

5. Point to

Use when indicating or suggesting something as evidence.
Example: “The sales data points to a significant increase in demand.”

6. Indicate

Appropriate for showing, pointing out, or suggesting something.
Example: “The survey results indicate a high level of employee satisfaction.”

7. Bring up

Used for introducing a topic or subject.
Example: “He brought up the budget constraints in the project discussion.”

8. Note

Ideal for observing or mentioning something of interest.
Example: “The manager noted the team’s improved performance in the last quarter.”

9. Quote

Use when repeating words from another source or person.
Example: “She quoted the CEO’s statement in her article.”

10. Speak of

Appropriate for talking about or mentioning something.
Example: “The director spoke of the need for innovation in the industry forum.”

11. Touch on

Used for dealing with a topic in a brief or slight way.
Example: “The training briefly touched on the importance of data security.”

12. Address

Ideal for discussing or dealing with a matter.
Example: “The policy addresses the issue of workplace diversity.”

13. Refer

Use when making reference to something.
Example: “Please refer to the guidelines provided in the employee handbook.”

14. Make reference to

Appropriate for mentioning or speaking about something.
Example: “The speaker made reference to several key economic indicators.”

15. Hint at

Used for suggesting something indirectly.
Example: “Her remarks hinted at possible changes in the management structure.”

16. Imply

Ideal for suggesting something without explicitly stating it.
Example: “His tone implied dissatisfaction with the current process.”

17. Suggest

Use when proposing or putting forward for consideration.
Example: “I suggest reviewing the client’s feedback for better insight.”

18. Name

Appropriate for mentioning someone or something specifically.
Example: “The report named the leading companies in the sector.”

19. Identify

Used for establishing or indicating who or what someone or something is.
Example: “The study identifies key trends that will shape the future of the industry.”

20. Acknowledge

Use when recognizing or admitting the existence or truth of something.
Example: “The CEO acknowledged the challenges faced by the company during the pandemic.”

Linda Brown