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

Quinn defers on the proposal but starts seeing Oliver in their new setting, creating the love triangle. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 24 July 2026

The council on Tuesday voted unanimously to defer the matter to the future, as councilmembers doubted the measure’s chance of prevailing given its $1 million price tag and late timing in the election season. — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

When to consider waiting a little longer If key conversations about money, conflict, or the future keep getting deferred, that’s worth paying attention to. — Ashley Lynch july 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

Trump officials said the funding is not permanently cut but deferred until states provide information to support the claims. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 22 July 2026

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