trans·fer
tran(t)s-ˈfər 
ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər
ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər
transferred; transferring
1
2
: to make over the possession or control of : convey
3
: to print or otherwise copy from one surface to another by contact
1
: to move to a different place, region, or situation
especially
: to withdraw from one educational institution to enroll at another
2
: to change from one vehicle or transportation line to another
trans·fer
ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər
1
a
: conveyance of right, title, or interest in real or personal property from one person to another
b
: removal or acquisition of property by mere delivery with intent to transfer title
2
a
: an act, process, or instance of transferring : transference sense 2
b
: the carryover or generalization of learned responses from one type of situation to another
3
: one that transfers or is transferred
especially
: a graphic image transferred by contact from one surface to another
4
: a place where a transfer is made (as of trains to ferries or as where one form of power is changed to another)
5
: a ticket entitling a passenger on a public conveyance to continue the trip on another route
Synonyms
Examples of transfer in a Sentence
Verb
We transferred the baby's car seat to the other car.
The patient was transferred to a different hospital.
transfer data on the hard drive to a disk
He transferred my call to another line.
The virus is transferred by mosquitoes.
He transferred control of the company to his son.
She was able to transfer her organizational skills to her new job.
Her skills transferred well to her new job.
Noun
We switched to another car, and the transfer only took a few minutes.
They arranged for a transfer of the prisoner to a different prison.
a material that reduces heat transfer
speeding up data transfer between computers
We are doing everything possible to ensure a smooth transfer to the new system.
a transfer by deed or will
a transfer to the home office
My overseas transfer has been approved.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Peart, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Birds who pushed the door to the right were transferred into aviaries where the resident birds were pushing the door on the left and vice versa.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Neil Irwin, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Trump returns to White House for symbolic meeting President-elect Donald Trump will meet with President Joe Biden today in a symbolic White House ceremony meant to signal the peaceful transfer of power.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for transfer 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The woman was transferred to a psychiatric hospital, raising concerns for her safety.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Birds who pushed the door to the right were transferred into aviaries where the resident birds were pushing the door on the left and vice versa.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
The incoming administration will face stark fiscal arithmetic: Most federal dollars go to direct transfers to Americans, disproportionately located in the very places that propelled President-elect Trump back to the White House.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Trump returns to White House for symbolic meeting President-elect Donald Trump will meet with President Joe Biden today in a symbolic White House ceremony meant to signal the peaceful transfer of power.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for transfer
Dictionary Entries Near transfer
Cite this Entry
“Transfer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transfer. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
transfer
1 of 2 verb
trans·fer
tran(t)s-ˈfər
ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər
ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər
transferred; transferring
1
a
: to pass from one person, place, or situation to another
b
: to cause to pass from one to another
2
: to give over the possession or ownership of
3
: to move to a different place, region, or situation
especially
: to withdraw from one school to enroll at another
4
: to change from one vehicle or transportation line to another
transferable
adjective
tran(t)s-ˈfər-ə-bəl
transfer
2 of 2 noun
trans·fer
ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər
1
: a giving over of right, title, or interest in property by one person to another
2
: an act, process, or example of transferring
3
: one that transfers or is transferred
4
: a graphic image transferred by contact from one surface to another
5
: a place where a transfer is made (as from trains to ferries)
6
: a ticket permitting a passenger on a bus or train to continue the journey by another route
Etymology
Verb
Middle English transferren "to transfer," from Latin transferre (same meaning), from trans- "across, through" and ferre "to bear, carry" — related to defer entry 1, fertile
Medical Definition
transfer
noun
trans·fer
ˈtran(t)s-ˌfər
1
2
: the carryover or generalization of learned responses from one type of situation to another see negative transfer
Legal Definition
transfer
1 of 2 transitive verb
trans·fer
trans-ˈfər, ˈtrans-ˌfər
transferred; transferring
: to cause a transfer of
transferral
noun
trans-ˈfər-əl
transfer
2 of 2 noun
trans·fer
ˈtrans-ˌfər
1
: a conveyance of a right, title, or interest in real or personal property from one person or entity to another
2
: a passing of something from one to another
transfer of venue
the transfer of power
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