How to Use ref in a Sentence

ref

noun
Definition of refnext
  • The refs are amazing and help the kids out in the games.
    — Gary Curreri, sun-sentinel.com, 27 June 2019
  • Pitkin found that without the boos, the refs got a bit of a breather.
    — Eric Niiler, Wired, 15 May 2020
  • The two refs in the booth can be doing their job just like the Refs on the field.
    — Paul Uhls, Cincinnati.com, 3 Jan. 2020
  • The refs are looking for sticks in hands, stuff like that.
    — Brad Elliott Schlossman, Twin Cities, 2 Feb. 2024
  • And if the ref don’t call a foul and you get hurt, that’s your problem.
    — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2023
  • Wow, who would have thought that the refs would mess up so many calls?
    — oregonlive, 19 Sep. 2019
  • The ref and the judges and Watts, the ringside announcer, did not.
    — Joseph Goodman, al, 10 July 2022
  • The refs have a very tough job with how fast plays happen.
    — Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 21 June 2019
  • One of the only times Browns fans cheered the refs on Sunday.
    — Scott Patsko, cleveland, 14 Oct. 2019
  • The strategy is to foul so much that the refs can't call them all.
    — Sally Jenkins, chicagotribune.com, 6 June 2018
  • Coaches and a ref had to calm the Mountain View bench down.
    — Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 9 Feb. 2022
  • The ref let M’Baye Niang on, who lit the jets to touch it past, and that was that, the winning goal.
    — Tim Bannon, chicagotribune.com, 25 June 2018
  • The third model in the trio is a faithful re-edition of the 1964 edition of the ref.
    — Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 26 May 2023
  • Hoiberg raised one hand in the air to grab a ref's attention.
    — Jon Blau, Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2020
  • The ref called for the bell when the others refused to leave the ring, giving the DQ win to Strowman and the Raiders.
    — Aaron Oster, baltimoresun.com, 7 Oct. 2019
  • The refs called a foul that could have resulted in a four-point play.
    — Michael Marot, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024
  • Instead, at the end, while the ref got the chair out of the ring, Owens low-blowed Shane, hit him with the Stunner, and got the pin.
    — Aaron Oster, baltimoresun.com, 12 Aug. 2019
  • At the end of the match, the ref would be distracted as Alexa Bliss and Kairi Sane fought on the outside.
    — Aaron Oster, baltimoresun.com, 7 Oct. 2019
  • Let’s keep it going, the refs are trying to do their best.
    — Houston Chronicle, 9 Dec. 2019
  • Finally, in the 116th minute, the ref blew the whistle to end it in Brisbane.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 3 Aug. 2023
  • For a crazed fan on the sidelines, there’s no ref to yell at when a player calls a foul.
    — Michael W. Miller, WSJ, 24 May 2018
  • The photo shows one ref and two players from each team.
    — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 3 Feb. 2020
  • Cisneros held a narrow 4-3 lead before the ref called the match.
    — Jeffrey Perkins, San Antonio Express-News, 18 Feb. 2023
  • The message: with all due respect, ref, your eyes are wrong.
    — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 6 July 2018
  • The ref made a good call and between me and Billy there's no problem.
    — Jason Jones, sacbee, 11 July 2018
  • But Packers fans certainly thought the ref's spot of the ball wasn't too kind.
    — Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2024
  • Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girls hand.
    — Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 20 July 2023
  • That the refs did appear quite chummy with the other team’s coach?
    — Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2024
  • And there is always a degree of tension between players and refs.
    — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024
  • Drone footage, which was first published by The U.S. Sun, showed large crowds of co-eds sprawled out across the beach, and a fun beach boxing bout with gloves, a ref and an overexcited crowd cheering them on.
    — Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ref.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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