postpone

American  

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

verb (used with object)

• postpones,
  present (3rd person singular)
• postponed,
  past participle,  past
• postponing
  present participle

1. 

   to put off to a later time; defer.

   He has postponed his departure until tomorrow.

2. to place after in order of importance or estimation; subordinate.

   to postpone private ambitions to the public welfare.

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postpone British  

/ pəʊstˈpəʊn, pəˈspəʊn /

verb

1. to put off or delay until a future time

2. to put behind in order of importance; defer

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Synonym Usage

See defer ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• postponement
  noun
• postponer
  noun
• repostpone
  verb (used with object)
• nonpostponable
  adjective
• postponable
  adjective
• unpostponable
  adjective
• unpostponed
  adjective
• well-postponed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• postponing
  present
• postponed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• postpone
  simple
• postpones
  simple
• have postponed
  perfect
• has postponed
  perfect
• am postponing
  progressive
• are postponing
  progressive
• is postponing
  progressive
• have been postponing
  perfect progressive
• has been postponing
  perfect progressive

Past

• postponed
  simple
• had postponed
  perfect
• was postponing
  progressive
• were postponing
  progressive
• had been postponing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will postpone
  simple
• will have postponed
  perfect
• will be postponing
  progressive
• will have been postponing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of postpone

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin postpōnere “to put after, lay aside,” equivalent to post- post- + pōnere “to put”

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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!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

postpone postpones postponed postponing

This week, Richard Rubin and Kara Dapena look at some of the ideas being discussed—how far they go to narrow the shortfall and how long they postpone the insolvency date, if at all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Here’s a look at how five proposals could narrow Social Security’s 75-year funding shortfall—and how long each could postpone insolvency, if at all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

With the airport shuttered, Saudi Arabia has been forced to cancel or postpone high-profile events, including a star-studded tennis tournament.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

Last year, Manilow revealed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and that surgery would require him to postpone several performances.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

It occurred to Jesse that she, too, wished to postpone regular school as long as possible.

From "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson

Plus, Trump postpones AI order, and ‘The Sound of Music’ is the secret to U.S.-China diplomacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

The plan also postpones more complex negotiations over its nuclear programme, a major sticking point for Trump.

From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026

For the insurer, that only postpones the pain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 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

Luke slightly postpones its beginning and very greatly antedates its suppression.

From The Making of the New Testament by Benjamin Wisner Bacon

South Sudan on Saturday postponed its first national elections from December to February amid growing violence, political battles between its president and deposed vice president and voter registration only just starting.

From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026

Fears of an AI-powered white-collar “job apocalypse” may have to be postponed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

The Halloween party was rescheduled “due to weather conditions beyond our control” and postponed to Nov. 7.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026

That decision was made after Australia stepped in to stage the tournament, which was postponed for a year when scheduled hosts France pulled out for financial reasons.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

The truth is, I postponed so I could spend more time with her.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Kateryna and Mattias had hoped to relocate this year, but are now considering renting while postponing their plans to buy.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026

Still, there is something peculiar about postponing industry-wide traceability requirements while ordinary shoppers are left scanning their broccoli with smartphones, hoping to learn something useful about where it came from.

From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2026

But some countries, including Saudi Arabia, India and China, say that postponing the "seventh assessment report" until 2029 will provide developing countries more time to absorb its findings.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

“It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

He had the responsibility more than all the other gods together of postponing as long as possible the day of doom, Ragnarok, when heaven and earth would be destroyed.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

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Related Words

• adjourn
• defer
• delay
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