Synonyms of postpone

postpone

verb

(ˌ)pōs(t)-ˈpōn 

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

• defer
• delay
• wait
• suspend
• shelve
• hesitate
• put over
• put off
• remit
• lay over
• hold over
• hold off (on)
• pause
• stay
• prolong
• slow
• hold up
• extend
• lengthen
• retard
• detain
• stretch (out)
• protract

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• do
• act
• work (on)
• deal (with)
• decide (upon)

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

Recent Examples of postpone

Yes, IPOs can be postponed at any point before shares are sold. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026

The union supports the school board’s decision to postpone cuts as long as possible to the back end of the three-year planning window — on the premise that many cuts could be avoided. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

More than a year after Apple TV postponed the release of Jessica Chastain’s crime thriller The Savant, the star revisited why the show is still so important to her. — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

The trial was postponed for a week after Bakker had a panic attack upon being taken into custody. — Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026