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

However, if health challenges begin to limit your ability to work, postponing retirement may not be the most practical option. —Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 25 June 2025

The advisers postponed a vote Wednesday on a new antibody against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in infants. —Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 25 June 2025

The event has traveled from London (2014), to Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017), Sydney (2018), The Hague (2022—postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic), and then to Düsseldorf (September 2023), and Vancouver and Whistler in February 2025. —Simon Perry, People.com, 23 June 2025

Salernitana said 21 players and members of staff were impacted and submitted a formal request for the game to be postponed. —Ali Rampling, New York Times, 22 June 2025