postpone
Americanverb (used with object)
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postpones,
present (3rd person singular)
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postponed,
past participle, past
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postponing
present participle
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to put off to a later time; defer.
He has postponed his departure until tomorrow.
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to place after in order of importance or estimation; subordinate.
to postpone private ambitions to the public welfare.
verb
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to put off or delay until a future time
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to put behind in order of importance; defer
Synonym Usage
See defer 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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postponementnoun
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postponernoun
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repostponeverb (used with object)
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nonpostponableadjective
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postponableadjective
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unpostponableadjective
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unpostponedadjective
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well-postponedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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postponesimple
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postponessimple
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have postponedperfect
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has postponedperfect
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am postponingprogressive
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are postponingprogressive
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is postponingprogressive
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have been postponingperfect progressive
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has been postponingperfect progressive
Past
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postponedsimple
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had postponedperfect
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was postponingprogressive
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were postponingprogressive
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had been postponingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of postpone
First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin postpōnere “to put after, lay aside,” equivalent to post- post- + pōnere “to put”
Explanation
To postpone something is to put it off until later. You can postpone an appointment today and reschedule it for tomorrow. Anything you're putting for is being postponed: people postpone things they don't have time to do or just don't want to do. Since doctor and dental appointments are no fun, people postpone them a lot. You can postpone small things, like going to the store or watching a video. The government can postpone big things, like the passing of bills or the invasion of another country. People who procrastinate are constantly postponing. When you see the word postpone, think "Later!"
Vocabulary lists containing postpone
Anti-Antonyms: Words Without Opposites
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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:
The scientists found that "superheating," which occurs when magma becomes hotter than the temperature at which crystals remain stable, can postpone crystal formation as the magma moves toward the surface.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
On July 24, Paramount’s legal team agreed to postpone the merger pending the outcome of the states’ antitrust case.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
Self-employed people might postpone year-end invoicing to the following year.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026
After Stagg convinces the leaders to postpone D-day, he is vindicated by a deluge of rain that arrives while everyone is attending church at Southwark House on June 5.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
Rich and I have decided to postpone our wedding.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
The deal, set to be signed Friday, also postpones rather than resolves the conflict’s central disputes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
Gen. Ambrose Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac, “but if the couchant lion postpones his spring too long, people will begin wondering whether he is not a stuffed specimen after all.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
The L.A. school board approved an $18.8 billion budget that postpones layoffs for a year and does not cut services to students.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2025
It postpones certain tax-filing deadlines for Americans and their spouses who are wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad.
From Slate ● Nov. 20, 2024
And the only wisdom of the languid, irresolute will, which postpones action in hope that feeling may be deepened, is to pray.
From The Gospel According to St. Mark by G. A. Chadwick
Meanwhile, planned maintenance and upgrades have to be postponed, leading to a maintenance backlog.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
There were 14 events planned for the 2026 season but in April, LIV postponed June's New Orleans competition amid questions over its future and has not announced a rescheduled date.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Richie, 77, postponed a stop at Chicago’s United Center and another show at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, after he brought his first tour stop to an abrupt end.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The Senate Judiciary Committee had been due to vote Thursday on advancing Blanche's nomination, but Republican leaders postponed the meeting after negotiations failed to win over Cornyn and Tillis.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
When he finished, he announced that the trial would be postponed until Wednesday morning because the prosecution and the defense wanted to interview surprise witnesses the prosecution had just subpoenaed.
From "Mississippi Trial, 1955" by Chris Crowe
U.S. assistance may also be about postponing some unpleasant financial developments at home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The Patel family waited another month before they could cremate her remains, postponing Ashok's last rites so they could be done together.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
But only hours before the scheduled ceremony, he announced he was postponing the executive order because he did not want to take away America’s competitive advantage over China and other countries.
From Salon ● May 24, 2026
To survive, 46% of nonprofit leaders surveyed are postponing staff raises and freezing hiring, 44% are drawing from their reserves and 34% are reducing programming or services.
From Barron's ● May 12, 2026
Yesterday Peter and I finally got around to having the talk we’ve been postponing for the last ten days.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
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.
