Synonyms of defer

defer

verb

di-ˈfər 

as in to postpone

to assign to a later time

we agreed to defer a discussion of the issue until we had more information

Synonyms & Similar Words

• postpone
• delay
• wait
• put over
• remit
• shelve
• suspend
• put off
• hesitate
• lay over
• hold over
• hold off (on)
• hold up
• pause
• stay
• slow
• prolong
• lengthen
• detain
• retard
• stretch (out)
• extend
• protract

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• do
• work (on)
• act
• deal (with)
• decide (upon)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word defer distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of defer are postpone, stay, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When could postpone be used to replace defer?

While in some cases nearly identical to defer, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

When is it sensible to use stay instead of defer?

While the synonyms stay and defer are close in meaning, stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

Where would suspend be a reasonable alternative to defer?

The words suspend and defer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defer

The court has historically deferred matters of foreign affairs to the executive branch and could find that the law itself is unconstitutional. —Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2025

Pay in 4: Gives customers the ability to pay in four equal interest-free installments Pay Later: Gives customers the ability to defer payments to a more convenient time, such as a date that aligns with their paycheck schedules. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025

Those duties will take effect next week unless Trump opts again to defer them or reaches a deal with the other countries’ heads of state. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Mar. 2025

To oust her, the government needs to reconvene after deferring the matter to the same committee that appointed her and hearing its recommendation. —arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2025

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