postpone

Everyday

1. To move an event to a later time instead of doing it now: The match was postponed because of rain. tree →
2. (formal) To delay doing something. tree →

In the lessons

In school and everyday life games, tests, trips and parties are postponed because of weather, illness or problems; it is not cancelled — it will still happen later. In maths a problem may say «the race was postponed by 3 days» — add the days to the old day. In formal notices: «The meeting has been postponed until further notice». Phrases: «postpone until», «postponed due to rain», «postpone a decision».

Examples

• The football match was postponed because of the storm. tree →
• Our test has been postponed until next week. tree →
• Can we postpone the party? Half the class is sick. tree →
• The trip was postponed by 2 days. tree →
• They postponed the launch because of high winds. tree →
• Don't postpone your homework until the last minute. tree →
• The concert is postponed, not cancelled. tree →
• The sports day was postponed twice. tree →
• His master was never one for postponing a duty. tree →

Note

Regular verb: postponed. Postpone = later; cancel = never; bring forward = earlier. Noun: postponement. Informal: put off. In maths: new time = old time + delay.