postpone

[ pohst-pohn, pohs- ]

See synonyms for: postpone postponed postpones postponing 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.

Origin of postpone

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

synonym study For postpone

1. See defer¹.

How to use postpone in a sentence

The SEC is dealing with outbreaks at several programs, and 10 Football Bowl Subdivision games were either canceled or postponed this past week.
Navy has second consecutive game postponed because of coronavirus | Kareem Copeland | November 10, 2020 | Washington Post
If football season had been postponed, the Big Ten’s 14 affiliates would’ve each lost some $100 million in revenue.
Football is back in Happy Valley. The coronavirus never left. | Kent Babb | October 30, 2020 | Washington Post
Lynn said he was not aware of any consideration being given to postponing Sunday’s game.
Giants and Chargers players test positive for coronavirus | Mark Maske | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post
They griped in August, when the Big Ten initially announced it was postponing its football season.
Nebraska football is airing its grievances against the Big Ten, over and over and over | Matt Bonesteel | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post
The Boston Marathon announced Wednesday that it is postponing its 2021 race, the 125th in the event’s history, to at least autumn of that year.
Boston Marathon postponed to an already busy fall 2021 race calendar | Des Bieler | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post

And Rep. Jim McDermott laid out an impassioned—and eminently reasonable—case for postponing the vote.
AIPAC's Push To Scuttle Iran Diplomacy | Ali Gharib | August 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
One is just postponing the inevitable, while the other seeks to deny that inevitability outright.
Jill Lepore on When Life Begins and Ends in ‘The Mansions of Happiness’ | Malcolm Jones | June 21, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The New York affiliate said it was postponing two spring fundraising events due to concerns about raising money.
Komen Kills Major Lobbying Day in D.C., Urges People Not to Abandon Women | Abigail Pesta | March 28, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The most Rabin said he could accept was an interim deal postponing the hard questions.
U.N. to Vote on Palestine | | September 27, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Samaras rarely got an outright “no” from a sitter, but some people kept postponing their appearances.
VIP Portrait Show | Judith H. Dobrzynski | November 12, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
The hunger of Fred would have prevented his postponing the meal one moment longer than was necessary.
Two Boys in Wyoming | Edward S. Ellis
It is not easy to see exactly what England will gain by postponing this change.
The Contemporary Review, January 1883 | Various
He had no intention of postponing the issue long; for the circumstances of the two powers were wholly favourable to Prussia.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8 | Various
Of course, I would have recalled our fixture in good time, and have written postponing your trip to Bison.
The Terms of Surrender | Louis Tracy
After having argued so finely, I blew out my candle, postponing the sequel till the morrow.
Great Ghost Stories | Various

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

Origin of postpone

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

Derived forms of postpone

postponable, adjective
postponement, noun
postponer, noun

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

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