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Definition of postpone - 6 dictionary results

post⋅pone

  [pohst-pohn, pohs-]
Use postpone in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -poned, -pon⋅ing.
1. to put off to a later time; defer: He has postponed his departure until tomorrow.
2. to place after in order of importance or estimation; subordinate: to postpone private ambitions to the public welfare.
Origin:
1490–1500; < L postpōnere to put after, lay aside, equiv. to post- post- + pōnere to put

Related forms:
post⋅pon⋅a⋅ble, adjective
post⋅pone⋅ment, noun
post⋅pon⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. See defer 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To postpone
post·pone   (pōst-pōn', pōs-pōn')   
tr.v.   post·poned, post·pon·ing, post·pones
  1. To delay until a future time; put off. See Synonyms at defer1.
  2. To place after in importance; subordinate.

[Latin postpōnere : post-, post- + pōnere, to put; see post2.]
post·pon'a·ble adj., post·pone'ment n., post·pon'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  postpone
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  See prepone
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Language Translation for : postpone
Spanish: posponer, aplazar,
German: verschieben,
Japanese: 延期する
More Translations »

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 deferred or put off; to delay; to adjourn; as, to postpone the consideration of a bill to the following day, or indefinitely.

His praise postponed, and never to be paid. --Cowper.

2. To place after, behind, or below something, in respect to precedence, preference, value, or importance.

All other considerations should give way and be postponed to this. --Locke.

Syn: To adjourn; defer; delay; procrastinate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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postpone 
1500, from L. postponere "put after, neglect, postpone," from post "after" + ponere "put, place" (see position).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: post·pone
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: post·poned; post·pon·ing
1 : to put off to a later time
2 : to place later in precedence, preference, or importance; specifically : to subordinate (a lien) to a later lien —post·pon·able adjective —post·pone·ment noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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