Words / B2

p-uh-SPOHN/pəˈspəʊn/

To postpone is to put something to a later time: postpone a meeting, postpone until Friday, be postponed. Delay can be unplanned; cancel means it will not happen; adjourn is for meetings and courts. Postponement is the noun. In speech, put off is enough. Do not use postpone for cancelling, and do not confuse it with prepone (an Indian English coinage meaning bring forward — not standard UK exam English).

Meaning

To arrange for something to happen at a later time than planned.

Examples

• “The inquiry was postponed until the new evidence arrived.”
• “The inquiry was postponed pending the forensic report.”
• “They postponed the fixture, they did not cancel it: a new date is coming.”

Good to know

postpone + event; postpone until. Everyday: put off. Unplanned wait: delay. Will not happen: cancel. Court/meeting: adjourn. Noun: postponement.

Near in meaning

put off

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