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postpone vs delay

Both 'postpone' and 'delay' are correct and commonly used in English. They can be used interchangeably to mean to cause something to happen at a later time than originally planned. There is no significant difference in meaning between the two terms.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 1012 views

postpone

The word 'postpone' is correct and commonly used in English to mean to cause something to happen at a later time than originally planned.

You can use 'postpone' when you want to refer to the act of delaying an event, appointment, or action to a later time.

Examples:

The meeting has been postponed until next week.
They decided to postpone the trip due to bad weather.

Show examples from the web [+]

And it is preferable to postpone the wedding.
All the more reason to postpone the announcement.
Never postpone the needed brake system service.
All I've been able to do is postpone the inevitable.
He said that you wanted to postpone the signing of the treaty.
But I suggest we postpone this discussion to a more suitable time.
This is a stunt to postpone the election.
But I don't want to postpone the wedding.
With what happened to manny, Maybe we better postpone our special day Until next weekend.
Then we'll postpone until you get back.
No, dottore, you must postpone it.
We'll postpone the tour of the house.
It's useless, we must postpone to another year.
All I did was postpone a three-day trip.
We will also postpone the publication of the magazine.
So let us postpone this for a while.
We should postpone this interview until his lawyer arrives.
We could always postpone till after graduation.
Maybe I can postpone negotiations until the police solve the case.
I totally understand if you need to postpone the weekend.

Alternatives:

defer
put off
reschedule
hold off
push back

delay

The word 'delay' is correct and commonly used in English to mean to cause something to happen at a later time than originally planned.

You can use 'delay' when you want to refer to the act of holding back or causing something to occur later than expected.

Examples:

The flight was delayed due to technical issues.
Please don't delay in sending me the report.

Show examples from the web [+]

Please accept our sincere apology for the delay.
Three-hour delay and a completely full flight.
The fates conspired towards unfortunate delay.
There is a 30-second streaming delay.
The slightest delay can shift political balances.
Orbán repeatedly criticized the EU for its delay.
Time delay for reverse running: 0.2s...
Low birth weight and generalized growth delay are sometimes observed.
Instant screenshots feature (no 1-frame delay).
Sensitivity and delay time can be adjustable.
Rules are in delay regarding requirements.
Minimum delay for web traffic & telnet.
Sometime up to 60 seconds delay between each directory.
There was no delay of materials.
An emphasis on speed and simplification should prevent administrative delay.
Patients facing undue delay should not require prior authorisation.
Such a delay unduly impacts smaller organisations and businesses.
This delay is seriously harming Community shipowners.
That can mean delay or even obstruction.
The report was submitted because of the excessive delay.

Alternatives:

postpone
defer
put off
hold off
push back

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