postpone

[pohst-pohn, pohs-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR postpone ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), post·poned, post·pon·ing.

to put off to a later time; defer: He has postponed his departure until tomorrow.

to place after in order of importance or estimation; subordinate: to postpone private ambitions to the public welfare.

Nearby words

Origin of postpone

1490–1500; < Latin postpōnere to put after, lay aside, equivalent to post- post- + pōnere to put

Related forms

post·pon·a·ble, adjectivepost·pone·ment, nounpost·pon·er, nounnon·post·pon·a·ble, adjective

non·post·pone·ment, nounre·post·pone, verb (used with object), re·post·poned, re·post·pon·ing.self-post·pone·ment, nounun·post·pon·a·ble, adjectiveun·post·poned, adjectivewell-post·poned, adjective

Synonym study

1. See defer¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for postpone

His first prescription when I saw him was to have the CAT scan test that I had been forced to postpone for a month and a half.
My Insurance Company Killed Me, Despite Obamacare|Malcolm MacDougall|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At this point, the photographer says, he decided that too many people knew about his trip and so he decided to postpone it.
Was U.S. Journalist Steven Sotloff a Marked Man?|Ben Taub|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The prerequisite for this is for the U.S. to postpone current efforts for some kind of political transition among Syrians.
Face the Assad Reality In Syria|Frank G. Wisner, Leslie H. Gelb|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We still need to see if that will happen, or if we need to postpone it.
‘Hocus Pocus’ Turns 20: Meet the Voice Behind Binx the Talking Cat|Kevin Fallon|October 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The term allows us to postpone or cancel altogether our confrontation with the word we must use: human.
Senseless. Evil. Silver Linings. Our Misguided Terms of Terror.|William Giraldi|April 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I had determined for many reasons to postpone building my house for the present, which decision my father regrets.
Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee|(His Son) Captain Robert E. Lee
The young girl had had a presentiment of impending evil, but her wish to postpone the journey had been overruled.
Modern Magic|Maximilian Schele de Vere
I will postpone my journey to the King, at any sacrifice of displeasure.
The Ghost Breaker|Charles Goddard
I am interrupted, and must postpone till to-morrow what I have further to say to your Lordship.
The History of Emily Montague|Frances Brooke
"Of course, if Madam Carroll is suffering," he said—then he stopped; he did not want to postpone it again.
For the Major|Constance Fenimore Woolson

British Dictionary definitions for postpone

postpone

verb (tr)

to put off or delay until a future time

to put behind in order of importance; defer

Derived Formspostponable, adjectivepostponement, nounpostponer, noun

Word Origin for postpone

C16: from Latin postpōnere to put after, neglect, from post- + ponere to place

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for postpone

postpone

c.1500, from Latin postponere "put after; esteem less; neglect; postpone," from post "after" (see post-) + ponere "put, place" (see position (n.)). Related: Postponed; postponing.

postpone

verb (used with object), post·poned, post·pon·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of postpone

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for postpone

postpone

verb (tr)

Word Origin for postpone

postpone