diff --git a/ibis/expr/api.py b/ibis/expr/api.py
index ff0b54fbafe6..b6e79761a382 100644
--- a/ibis/expr/api.py
+++ b/ibis/expr/api.py
@@ -1838,9 +1838,83 @@ def where(cond, true_expr, false_expr) -> ir.Value:
     return ifelse(cond, true_expr, false_expr)
 
 
-coalesce = _deferred(ir.Value.coalesce)
-greatest = _deferred(ir.Value.greatest)
-least = _deferred(ir.Value.least)
+@deferrable
+def coalesce(*args: Any) -> ir.Value:
+    """Return the first non-null value from `args`.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    args
+        Arguments from which to choose the first non-null value
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    Value
+        Coalesced expression
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> import ibis
+    >>> ibis.options.interactive = True
+    >>> ibis.coalesce(None, 4, 5)
+    4
+    """
+    if not args:
+        raise ValueError("Must provide at least one argument")
+    return ops.Coalesce(args).to_expr()
+
+
+@deferrable
+def greatest(*args: Any) -> ir.Value:
+    """Compute the largest value among the supplied arguments.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    args
+        Arguments to choose from
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    Value
+        Maximum of the passed arguments
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> import ibis
+    >>> ibis.options.interactive = True
+    >>> ibis.greatest(None, 4, 5)
+    5
+    """
+    if not args:
+        raise ValueError("Must provide at least one argument")
+    return ops.Greatest(args).to_expr()
+
+
+@deferrable
+def least(*args: Any) -> ir.Value:
+    """Compute the smallest value among the supplied arguments.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    args
+        Arguments to choose from
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    Value
+        Minimum of the passed arguments
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> import ibis
+    >>> ibis.options.interactive = True
+    >>> ibis.least(None, 4, 5)
+    4
+    """
+    if not args:
+        raise ValueError("Must provide at least one argument")
+    return ops.Least(args).to_expr()
+
 
 aggregate = ir.Table.aggregate
 cross_join = ir.Table.cross_join
diff --git a/ibis/tests/expr/test_sql_builtins.py b/ibis/tests/expr/test_sql_builtins.py
index d74d6da882bc..2c0248a68ebb 100644
--- a/ibis/tests/expr/test_sql_builtins.py
+++ b/ibis/tests/expr/test_sql_builtins.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import ibis
 import ibis.expr.operations as ops
 import ibis.expr.types as ir
+from ibis import _
 from ibis.tests.util import assert_equal
 
 
@@ -206,3 +207,15 @@ def test_floats(sql_table, function):
 
     expr = function(5.5, 5)
     assert isinstance(expr, ir.FloatingScalar)
+
+
+def test_deferred(sql_table, function):
+    expr = function(None, _.v3, 2)
+    res = expr.resolve(sql_table)
+    sol = function(None, sql_table.v3, 2)
+    assert res.equals(sol)
+
+
+def test_no_arguments_errors(function):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="at least one argument"):
+        function()
diff --git a/ibis/tests/expr/test_table.py b/ibis/tests/expr/test_table.py
index 6e234adc223a..7e2b7f553564 100644
--- a/ibis/tests/expr/test_table.py
+++ b/ibis/tests/expr/test_table.py
@@ -1861,7 +1861,7 @@ def test_invalid_deferred():
     t = ibis.table(dict(value="int", lagged_value="int"), name="t")
 
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
-        ibis.greatest(t.value, ibis._.lagged_value)
+        ops.Greatest((t.value, ibis._.lagged_value))
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("keep", ["last", None])