defer, delay, postpone

defer, delay, postpone
Each of these words implies keeping or preventing something from happening until a later time: "I recommend that we defer (or delay or postpone) this action to our next meeting." To defer is to make a decision to do something later: "I shall defer making a decision until tomorrow." To delay is to lay something aside, to impede or hinder, to put something off: "I'll delay answering this letter until I feel like writing." To postpone is to put something off to a particular time in the future with the intention of following up: "This election should be postponed until our next session." Each of these words may be followed by an -ing form of a verb but not by an infinitive: "He deferred leaving (not he deferred to leave), delayed leaving, postponed leaving."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • defer — defer1 deferrer, n. /di ferr /, v., deferred, deferring. v.t. 1. to put off (action, consideration, etc.) to a future time: The decision has been deferred by the board until next week. 2. to exempt temporarily from induction into military service …   Universalium

  • defer — I de•fer [[t]dɪˈfɜr[/t]] v. t. ferred, fer•ring 1) to postpone; delay 2) mil to exempt temporarily from induction into military service • Etymology: 1325–75; ME deferren, var. of differren to differ de•fer′rer, n. syn: defer, delay, postpone… …   From formal English to slang

  • postpone — See defer. See defer, delay, postpone …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • delay — See defer. See defer, delay, postpone …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • defer — See defer, delay, postpone …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • defer — I (put off) verb adjourn, arrest, be dilatory, bide, delay, detain, differre, discontinue, extend, file, forbear, forestall, gain time, hesitate, hinder, hold back, hold in abeyance, hold off, hold up, impede, interfere, interrupt, intervene,… …   Law dictionary

  • postpone — post·pone vt post·poned, post·pon·ing 1: to put off to a later time 2: to place later in precedence, preference, or importance; specif: to subordinate (a lien) to a later lien post·pon·able adj post·pone·ment n Merriam Webster’s Dictionary …   Law dictionary

  • Postpone — Post*pone , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Postponed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Postponing}.] [L. postponere, postpositum; post after + ponere to place, put. See {Post }, and {Position}.] 1. To defer to a future or later time; to put off; also, to cause to be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • postpone — [v] put off till later time adjourn, cool it*, defer, delay, give a rain check*, hang fire*, hold off, hold over, hold up, lay over, pigeonhole*, prorogue, put back, put on back burner*, put on hold, shelve, suspend, table; concept 130 Ant. carry …   New thesaurus

  • postpone — [pōst pōn′] vt. postponed, postponing [L postponere < post , POST + ponere, to put: see POSITION] 1. to put off until later; defer; delay 2. to put at or near the end of the sentence [the German verb is postponed] 3. Rare to subordinate …   English World dictionary

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