POSTPONE Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'postpone' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of postpone are defer , stay , and suspend . While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time. // the game is postponed until Saturday

Q: Where would 'defer' be a reasonable alternative to 'postpone'?

The meanings of defer and postpone largely overlap; however, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. // deferred buying a car until spring

Q: In what contexts can 'stay' take the place of 'postpone'?

While in some cases nearly identical to postpone , stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority. // the governor stayed the execution

Q: When can 'suspend' be used instead of 'postpone'?

While the synonyms suspend and postpone are close in meaning, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied. // business will be suspended while repairs are underway

postpone

verb

(ˌ)pōs(t)-ˈpōn

Definition of postpone next

as in to defer

to assign to a later time we'll have to postpone a decision until we have all the information

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word postpone distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of postpone are defer, stay, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

Where would defer be a reasonable alternative to postpone?

The meanings of defer and postpone largely overlap; however, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

In what contexts can stay take the place of postpone?

While in some cases nearly identical to postpone, stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

When can suspend be used instead of postpone?

While the synonyms suspend and postpone are close in meaning, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of postpone Taking secondary roads with lower speed limits or postponing travel during squall warnings are advised. —

Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 Goo Goo Dolls have postponed several tour dates after frontman John Rzeznik was hospitalized with pneumonia. —

Lauren Huff, EW.com, 4 Dec. 2024 It was set to kick off on Oct. 23 in San Francisco before traveling to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York City, however Malik elected to postpone the U.S. dates following the death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne. —

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024 Any delay in cutting rates will also postpone relief for Americans who want home mortgages, auto loans and credit card debt to be less burdensome. —

Niall Stanage, The Hill, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for postpone