adjourn
Americanverb (used with object)
-
adjourns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
adjourned,
past participle, past
-
adjourning
present participle
-
to suspend the meeting of (a club, legislature, committee, etc.) to a future time, another place, or indefinitely.
At this point in the trial, the judge adjourned the court session so the defense could access and review the test results.
-
to defer or postpone to a later time.
Too many board members would have been absent, so the chair adjourned the meeting to next Monday.
-
to defer or postpone (a matter) to a future meeting of the same body, or to a future time, specified or not specified.
We will adjourn discussion of point 5.2 to our April meeting.
verb (used without object)
-
adjourns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
adjourned,
past participle, past
-
adjourning
present participle
-
to postpone, suspend, or transfer proceedings.
-
to go to another place.
After dinner the ladies adjourned to the parlor.
verb
-
(intr) (of a court, etc) to close at the end of a session
-
to postpone or be postponed, esp temporarily or to another place
-
(tr) to put off (a problem, discussion, etc) for later consideration; defer
-
informal (intr)
-
to move elsewhere
let's adjourn to the kitchen
-
to stop work
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
adjournsimple
-
adjournssimple
-
have adjournedperfect
-
has adjournedperfect
-
am adjourningprogressive
-
are adjourningprogressive
-
is adjourningprogressive
-
have been adjourningperfect progressive
-
has been adjourningperfect progressive
Past
-
adjournedsimple
-
had adjournedperfect
-
was adjourningprogressive
-
were adjourningprogressive
-
had been adjourningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of adjourn
1300–50; Middle English ajo ( u ) rnen < Middle French ajo ( u ) rner, equivalent to a- ad- + jorn- < Latin diurnus daily; see journal, journey
Explanation
To adjourn is to close a session of something, like at court. People also adjourn when they go to bed. When something is adjourned, it's over. This word comes up most often in court. Lawyers and citizens don't have the power to adjourn — to call a recess in the proceedings. Only a judge can adjourn the court. This can also be used in any situation where someone is withdrawing from somewhere, or retiring for awhile. "I must adjourn!" is a fancy way of saying "I'm out of here! I need to get some sleep. See you tomorrow."
Vocabulary lists containing adjourn
The Constitution of the United States
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Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Both houses will adjourn for summer recess, the House on July 24 and the Senate on Aug. 10.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Before we adjourn, a final question: What will next year’s healthcare roundtable focus on?
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2025
They all agreed that they would get rid of this hot potato, adjourn quickly and go home for the holidays.
From Salon ● Dec. 20, 2024
On Monday, the inquest is expected to hear submissions on a request by Paterson to adjourn proceedings.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2024
I resolved that if he acted in that finger-wagging fashion with me I would have to inform him that I found such behavior unacceptable, and I would then stand up and adjourn the meeting.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
They join a growing pile of bills on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk as the legislature nears the end of its two-year session, which adjourns early this week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
According to the Associated Press, the deal outlines a plan for the Senate to vote to confirm 13 more district court judges before the upper chamber adjourns in December.
From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2024
The next two weeks could prove critical, before Parliament adjourns at the end of July for a long summer recess.
From New York Times ● Jul. 16, 2023
With less than a week before legislative session adjourns on June 5, the plan faces an uncertain path in Nevada’s Legislature.
From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2023
As Coin adjourns the meeting, Haymitch asks her if he can speak to me privately.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
The inquest was adjourned until 18 March 2027.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Judge William Sullivan adjourned the hearing until November 2 and raised the possibility of setting a new trial date depending on how he rules on the defense's motion.
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill said it was a "very sad and tragic death" as she opened and adjourned the inquest in Ipswich.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill said it was a "very sad and tragic death" as she opened and adjourned the inquest.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
He demanded that the police bring the chief to court so that he could resume his testimony, and court was adjourned.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Assistant coroner Sophie Cartwright KC apologised to Cusack's family for the delay before adjourning the hearing until 7 December, to allow Sheffield United to search for documents linked to her medical records.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
"By adjourning the sentencing until after that election... the Court would reduce, even if not eliminate, issues regarding the integrity of any future proceedings," reads the Aug. 14 letter.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2024
District Judge Tim Pattinson ordered a pre-sentence report before adjourning the hearing for sentencing on 30 September.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2024
The emergency special session also heard from representatives of Jordan and Iran, among other nations, before adjourning.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 26, 2023
Before adjourning, the chairman encouraged her to invite “the ladies of the land” to form their own anti-slavery societies.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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