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

Members of the City Council’s zoning committee Tuesday deferred a vote on a measure that would have removed the city landmark status of the bridge, which is said to be the oldest example of Chicago’s iconic trunnion bascule bridge style. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026

The court has deferred a decision on the lease and sublease rejections until a hearing Wednesday. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Oct. 2026

The order directs the Treasury Department to defer payment without interest or penalties, and to explore ways to eliminate the deferred bill entirely. — Steven John, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a motion from Mayor Bogen to indefinitely defer the supplement. — Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026