adjourn
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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)
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
One juror suffers from blackouts, which means that everyone can adjourn to the bar earlier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
Before we adjourn, a final question: What will next year’s healthcare roundtable focus on?
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2025
Gaetz resigned in the current session of Congress, which does not officially adjourn until Jan. 2, 2025.
From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2024
Judge Talog Davies accepted a request from the defence to adjourn sentencing for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2024
He waved his gavel, ready to adjourn, but Connor’s father held up a warning hand.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
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
Further votes affirming L.G.B.T.Q. clergy and churchgoers are expected before the meeting adjourns on Friday.
From New York Times ● May 1, 2024
Industry lobbyists are reportedly negotiating with lawmakers, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office toward a deal that would be unveiled in the last weeks before the Legislature adjourns on Sept. 14.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2023
When Sanders signs Arkansas’ legislation, it won’t take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns its session, meaning the measure wouldn’t be enforced until this summer.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2023
As Coin adjourns the meeting, Haymitch asks her if he can speak to me privately.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Parliament was adjourned on Tuesday after the opposition benches demanded a discussion on the alleged "brutality unleashed on students".
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Inside parliament, meanwhile, the opening day of the monsoon session was repeatedly adjourned as opposition MPs protested over the alleged paper leak and other issues.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
On that note, the court adjourned for its summer recess.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
The inquest has now adjourned and the coroner's summing-up to the jury will resume on Monday 29 June before the jury goes out to consider its verdict.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
At the first curfew bell, the woman in charge pronounced the meeting adjourned until the following Tuesday, and the girls broke into a buzz, gathering their sewing things together and putting on bonnets to leave.
From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson
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
Judge Juan M. Merchan announced the scheduling change just before adjourning court on Thursday.
From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024
Before adjourning for a break, the judge made it clear that he felt unconvinced by the arguments.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2024
Then he banged his gavel heavily upon the rostrum, adjourning conclave and sealing their fate.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
