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

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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 After denying the motion, Kennelly granted a defense request to postpone Schaefer’s January trial, which was reset for March 15. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026 Fallout has rippled across the sport, with the Golf Channel postponing a Good Good reality series and major retailers pulling the brand’s merchandise. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 The first-ever Dreamgirls revival, originally planned for a fall 2026 Broadway staging, has been postponed. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 By Sunday, 36 men currently on the Niners’ active roster will have their NFL dreams indefinitely postponed. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for postpone

Recent Examples of Synonyms for postpone

Verb

But Japan’s experience suggests what can happen when a bunch of young people who did everything right to prepare for adulthood find the fruits of adulthood deferred, en masse.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Tennessee struggled from the opening coin flip, which the Titans won the toss only to defer, and Seattle needed seven plays before Lock found a wide-open Elijah Arroyo for a 36-yard TD.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of defer

Verb

During the first quarter of this year, around $130 billion worth of data center projects were blocked or delayed due to local opposition, according to a report from Data Center Watch.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
The classroom pipeline feeds directly into Russia’s conscription system, which requires all 18-year-old men to complete one year’s military service, though in reality many avoid or delay being drafted.

— Bloomberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of delay

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postmortems

postpone

postponed

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“Postpone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postpone. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of postpone

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Synonyms of postpone

verb

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