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

After the shooting, all Rhode Island high school sports were postponed for a week. —ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026

Health care costs have also prompted tens of millions of Americans to postpone major life events in recent years, according to a separate West Health-Gallup Center survey conducted between October and December. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026

Angelina Jolie, Will Smith and Jim Carrey, who had been booked as presenters, opted to skip the ceremony, and Warren Beatty called the telecast’s producer, Gil Cates, to urge him to postpone. —Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026

Nearly one in 10 adults, or roughly 24 million people, say health costs have forced them to postpone their retirements. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026