Synonyms of postpone

postpone

verb

(ˌ)pōs(t)-ˈpōn 

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of postpone

Andrej Sokolow | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Apple has postponed the launch of its new iPhone Air model in China due to regulatory issues surrounding its eSIM design, the company said. —Annie Palmer, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025

In a new interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Mötley frontman revealed that his stroke recovery was the reason why the band had to postpone its Vegas residency, which now starts Friday night. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025

The trial for an Excelsior Springs man accused of rape, kidnapping, and murder in a high-profile case involving missing Black women has been postponed until next year, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office. —Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025

Another highly polarizing member of Congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, postponed an event on Thursday night and a speaking engagement in Raleigh at a North Carolina Democratic Party rally this coming Sunday due to security concerns. —Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025