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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of postpone Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Those shows have been postponed until September 2026. Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 Parton missing a Dollywood event isn't entirely unusual, but postponing by nearly a year what was meant to be her return to Vegas after nearly three decades since her last extended run in the city has raised eyebrows. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025 Dolly Parton‘s upcoming concert residency in Las Vegas has been postponed. Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for postpone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postpone
Verb
  • Joseph VonNida deferred questions about the state’s version of that unit to the Department of Homeland Security.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Cox also called for unity in hopes of deferring political violence.
    Lee Ann Anderson, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Treasury has not set a date for when the final draft will be decided, but the government shutdown may delay a final decision.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Munich Airport in Germany briefly delayed the relaunch of flight operations on Saturday morning local time due to drone sightings, after previous UAV sightings earlier halted all traffic at the airport for several hours.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Postpone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postpone. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on postpone

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