Postpone — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /(ˌ)pōs(t)-ˈpōn/ post·pone

Meaning & Definition of Postpone

Postpone (verb)

  1. to put off to a later time, defer
  2. to place later (as in a sentence) than the normal position in English
  3. to place later in order of precedence, preference, or importance

Postpone (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to assign to a later time

    "we'll have to postpone a decision until we have all the information"

    similar: defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, hold up, lay over, put off, put over, remit, shelve
    related: suspend, hesitate, pause, stay, detain, retard, slow, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch (out), wait
    near: act, deal (with), decide (upon), do, work (on)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Postpone

The most common words with a similar meaning to Postpone:

defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, hold up, lay over, put off, put over, remit, shelve

Related Words for 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)

Word Forms of Postpone

Inflections: postponed, postponing

Derived words: postponable (adjective), postponement (noun), postponer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Postpone

Latin postponere to place after, postpone, from post- + ponere to place position

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Postpone

Frequently Asked Questions about Postpone

What does "Postpone" mean?

"Postpone" means to put off to a later time, defer. As a verb, it is defined as: to put off to a later time, defer.

What is another word for "Postpone"?

Other words for "Postpone" include defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, hold up, lay over, put off and put over. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Postpone" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Postpone"?

There are 23 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Postpone". Common alternatives include defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, hold up, lay over, put off, put over, remit and shelve.

How do you use "Postpone" in a sentence?

Examples of "Postpone" in a sentence: "we'll have to postpone a decision until we have all the information".

Is "Postpone" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Postpone" is a verb.

Is "Postpone" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Postpone" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Postpone"?

"Postpone" is pronounced /(ˌ)pōs(t)-ˈpōn/ and divided into syllables as post·pone.

What is the origin of the word "Postpone"?

"Postpone" comes from Latin postponere to place after, postpone, from post- + ponere to place position. First known use: 15th century.