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postpone

verb

/poʊstˈpoʊn/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of postpone

To delay or reschedule an event, activity, or task to a later time or date.
"He decided to postpone his vacation until he finished his project."

Detailed meaning of postpone

When someone postpones something, they intentionally move it to a future point in order to accommodate changing circumstances, conflicts, or unforeseen situations. This decision to postpone is typically made to ensure that the event or task can be executed under more favorable or suitable conditions. It involves deferring the original plan or schedule and communicating the new arrangement to those involved. Postponing can be applied to a wide range of scenarios, including meetings, appointments, deadlines, events, trips, or any other planned engagement. By postponing, individuals or organizations aim to provide themselves with more time, resources, or flexibility to address any challenges or issues that may hinder the successful completion or execution of the original plan.

Example sentences containing postpone

1. We need to postpone the meeting until next week.
2. Can we postpone the event to a later date?
3. They decided to postpone the project due to budget constraints.
4. Let's postpone the decision until we have more information.
5. The flight was postponed due to bad weather conditions.
6. It's better to postpone the trip until the roads are clear.

History and etymology of postpone

The verb 'postpone' has an interesting etymology that traces its origins to Latin. It can be broken down into two Latin words: 'post,' meaning 'after,' and 'ponere,' which means 'to place' or 'to put.' When combined, these words form 'postponere,' which originally referred to the act of placing something after or later in time. Over time, this Latin term evolved into the English word 'postpone,' maintaining its fundamental meaning of delaying or rescheduling an event, activity, or task to a later time or date. The etymology of 'postpone' highlights its essence of pushing something forward in time, away from its originally intended schedule.

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Further usage examples of postpone

1. We should postpone the party until everyone can attend.
2. The company decided to postpone the product launch until the market conditions improve.
3. The concert had to be postponed because the lead singer fell ill.
4. Let's postpone the interview until the candidate arrives.
5. The wedding was postponed due to a family emergency.
6. We should postpone the deadline to give everyone more time to complete their tasks.
7. The committee agreed to postpone the vote until the next meeting.
8. The game was postponed because of a scheduling conflict.
9. They decided to postpone the renovation until they have enough funds.
10. Let's postpone the decision until we have gathered all the necessary data.
11. The event organizers had to postpone the marathon due to safety concerns.
12. The exam has been postponed to next month.
13. We should postpone the training session until all the participants are available.
14. The project's completion date was postponed by a week.