Synonyms for defer
Definitions
- v. 1
To delay or postpone.
We're going to defer the decision until we have all the facts.
- v. 2
To delay or postpone. to postpone induction into military service.
Forms
- Past participle
- deferred
e.g. deferred → postponed, delayed, procrastinated, suspended…
Choose the right word
Postpone implies a definite intention to resume, as defer also does, though less decidedly; both are often used with some definite limitation of time; as, to postpone till, until, or to a certain day or hour.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- delay He's desperately trying to make up for the delay.
- suspend The principal decided to suspend Lorenzo for a week.
- postpone We are left with having to postpone our departure.
- procrastinate Your tendency to procrastinate caught up to you.
- submit Applicants were requested to submit their resumes.
By length
- 3 letters
- bow1
- 4 letters
- wait1
- 5 letters
- table2, delay2, yield1, waive1, remit2
- 6 letters
- submit2, hinder2, retard2, accede2, shelve1
- 7 letters
- suspend2, prolong2, adjourn2
- 8 letters
- postpone2, prorogue, protract2
- 13 letters
- procrastinate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (table2 = 2 syllables).