POSTPONE Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'postpone' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of postpone are defer , stay , and suspend . While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time. // the game is postponed until Saturday

Q: Where would 'defer' be a reasonable alternative to 'postpone'?

The meanings of defer and postpone largely overlap; however, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. // deferred buying a car until spring

Q: In what contexts can 'stay' take the place of 'postpone'?

While in some cases nearly identical to postpone , stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority. // the governor stayed the execution

Q: When can 'suspend' be used instead of 'postpone'?

While the synonyms suspend and postpone are close in meaning, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied. // business will be suspended while repairs are underway

postpone

verb

(ˌ)pōs(t)-ˈpōn

Definition of postpone

as in to defer

to assign to a later time we'll have to postpone a decision until we have all the information

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word postpone distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of postpone are defer, stay, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

Where would defer be a reasonable alternative to postpone?

The meanings of defer and postpone largely overlap; however, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

In what contexts can stay take the place of postpone?

While in some cases nearly identical to postpone, stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

When can suspend be used instead of postpone?

While the synonyms suspend and postpone are close in meaning, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of postpone The two-week jury trial was initially set for December 2025, then postponed until later this month. — Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 Blake and Barbara White had to postpone their wedding and the events leading up to it near Destin, Florida, because of Hurricane Isaias. — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026 Sharif’s government has been urging Afridi since last month to postpone the march, citing a surge in attacks by the Pakistani Taliban in the northwest. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 Outer bands of rain from former Hurricane Isaias postponed the Blue Cross NC 300 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for postpone

Recent Examples of Synonyms for postpone

Verb

Trump issued an executive order last week allowing truckers to use tax-exempt offroad diesel on the highway, but the tax obligation is deferred not eliminated.

— Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
The court has deferred a decision on the lease and sublease rejections until a hearing Wednesday.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of defer

Verb

More than 350 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow airports, local media reported, as planes were grounded in response to incoming drones.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Green denied that characterization and declined to elaborate on the challenges that delayed the delivery beyond the missing money.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of delay

Browse Nearby Words

postmortems

postpone

postponed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Postpone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postpone. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of postpone

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Prepone

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of postpone

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to postpone

Prepone

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes