Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

postpone

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of postpone

to assign to a later time
  • weʼll have to postpone a decision until we have all the information
Synonyms of postpone

defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, hold up, lay over, put off, put over, remit, shelve
Words Related to postpone

suspend

hesitate, pause, stay

detain, retard, slow

extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch (out)

wait
Near Antonyms of postpone

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

Synonym Discussion of postpone

defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.
    • deferred buying a car until spring
postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.
    • the game is postponed until Saturday
suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.
    • business will be suspended while repairs are underway
stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.
    • the governor stayed the execution

Learn More about postpone

  1. See words that rhyme with postpone Dictionary: Definition of postpone Spanish Central: Translation of postpone Nglish: Translation of postpone for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of postpone for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up postpone? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

hamartia

Listen to the pronounciation of hamartia

a flaw that causes the downfall of a hero

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

  2. crawdad New novel makes waves

  3. non sequitur, sequitur Manafort judge addresses defense

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games