Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To cause or arrange for (an event) to take place at a time later than the time at which it was originally supposed to happen. synonym: defer.
  • transitive verb To postpose.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To put off; defer to a future or later time; delay.
  • To set below (something else) in value or importance; rate as less important or inferior.
  • Synonyms To adjourn, procrastinate, stave off.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To defer to a future or later time; to put off; also, to cause to be deferred or put off; to delay; to adjourn.
  • transitive verb To place after, behind, or below something, in respect to precedence, preference, value, or importance.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To delay or put off an event, appointment etc.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb hold back to a later time

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin postpōnere : post-, post- + pōnere, to put; see post.]

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Examples

  • Which means we will once again postpone the (in) decision.

    Reservoirs Gain Water at cvillenews.com 2002

  • She received, also, a little, though mournful, reprieve from terror, by a letter from Lisbon, written to again postpone the return of Mrs. Tyrold, at the earnest request of Mr. Relvil; and she flattered herself that, before her arrival, she should be enabled to resume those only duties which could draw her from despondence.

    Camilla: or, A Picture of Youth 1796

  • First at UFC 106 and then again at UFC 108, Carwin's title opportunities were dashed while Lesnar, battling through a painful intestinal disorder, was forced to postpone, which is why UFC officials deemed it appropriate to create Saturday's interim title fight.

    SI.com 2010

  • Why do I fear that any civil unrest will lead to this Labour government implementing the Civil Contingency Act so as to "postpone" elections, initially for a short time and then for the duration of the disturbances, disturbances that may last for a very very long time indeed?

    What is the dividing line between party and Country? Not a sheep 2009

  • And don't expect to be able to vote this Labour mob out at a general election, any civil unrest will lead to the Civil Contingency Act being used to "postpone" elections, initially for a short time and then for the duration of the disturbances, disturbances that may last for a very very long time indeed.

    "British jobs for British workers" - the truth will out Not a sheep 2009

  • And don't expect to be able to vote this Labour mob out at a general election, any civil unrest will lead to the Civil Contingency Act being used to "postpone" elections, initially for a short time and then for the duration of the disturbances, disturbances that may last for a very very long time indeed.

    A summer of hate rather than love Not a sheep 2009

  • Does anyone else believe that Gordon Brown might use the Civil Contingencies Act and other legislation to "postpone" a general election for reasons of internal security?

    Archive 2008-10-01 Not a sheep 2008

  • Does anyone else believe that Gordon Brown might use the Civil Contingencies Act and other legislation to "postpone" a general election for reasons of internal security?

    'Life on Mars' for real Not a sheep 2008

  • Does anyone else believe that Gordon Brown might use the Civil Contingencies Act and other legislation to "postpone" a general election for reasons of internal security?

    Archive 2008-06-01 Not a sheep 2008

  • Either he's trying to force the debates commission to "postpone" the VP debate -- in which case it will never be rescheduled, sparing Palin another debacle -- or he's trying to throw Obama off his game with this distraction about whether or not he's going to show up.

    Election Central Morning Roundup 2009

Comments

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  • A pleasant, drowsy state resulting from the eating of plenty of cornpone.

    October 19, 2007