definitions

postpone

[ pohst-pohn, pohs- ]
/ poʊstˈpoʊn, poʊs- /
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

defer, suspend, delay, shelve, adjourn, table, pigeonhole, prorogue

Nearby words

postpartum pituitary necrosis syndrome, postpartum psychosis, postpartum tetanus, postperfusion lung, postpericardiotomy syndrome, postpone, postponement, postpose, postposition, postpositive, postprandial

Origin of postpone

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

Related forms

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

British Dictionary definitions for postpone

postpone

/ (pəʊstˈpəʊn, pəˈspəʊn) /

verb (tr)

to put off or delay until a future time
to put behind in order of importance; defer

Derived Forms

postponable, 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