postpone until later

USAGE SUMMARY

"postpone until later" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to delay or reschedule something to a later time or date. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the meeting has been postponed until later. A new date and time will be announced soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Here is a look at some of the highlights of the budget — and some of the issues that Mr. Cuomo and lawmakers agreed to postpone until later in the legislative session in order to ensure they could complete the spending plan by the Monday deadline.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Thrashers said Heatley's knee was sore after a rehabilitation session yesterday, so his return to the ice was postponed until later in the week.

The New York Times - Sports

Union leaders said a strike remained very possible, with one adviser even suggesting that it could be postponed until later in the week.

The New York Times

But the employee, whose name was redacted, argued that the impression created by a potential bankruptcy would be bad whether it occurred at the time — in February — or if it were postponed until later.

The New York Times

The planned Broadway show "Vanities, a New Musical," scheduled to open on Feb. 26 at the Lyceum Theater, will be postponed until later in the season, its producers said Friday.

The New York Times

This article was amended on 26 August to clarify that the AFI screening of The Birth of a Nation was postponed until "later in the year" rather than cancelled indefinitely.

The Guardian - Film

The smart money says we take that as a yes, although an official announcement might be postponed until later in the autumn (if Wang's days end up officially numbered, that could undermine the commercial appeal of the collection shown to press and buyers at Paris Fashion Week).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

White's wedding to his fiancée Stacy was postponed until later in the year due to the injury.

Wikipedia

On the other hand, couples may marry after a first birth, suggesting that marriage is not eschewed altogether, but simply postponed until later in the life course (Perelli-Harris et al. 2012).

European Journal of Population

The activities that took place in the specification process were, thus, sequenced in such a way that common-to-all activities occurred early in the process while customization activities were postponed until later in the process.

BMC Health Services Research

Can some components of your problem be postponed until later in the project?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "postpone until later" when you want to explicitly indicate that an event or action is being delayed to an unspecified time in the future. This phrasing is particularly useful when the exact rescheduled time is yet to be determined.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "postpone until later" can sound slightly informal. In professional or academic writing, consider more sophisticated alternatives such as "defer to a future date" or "reschedule for a later time" to maintain a higher degree of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "postpone until later" functions as a directive, instructing or informing about the act of delaying something to an unspecified future time. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

24%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "postpone until later" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates the act of delaying something to an unspecified future time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While it is not exceedingly common, it appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in News & Media, Wiki, and Science. For more formal settings, consider alternatives such as "defer to a future date" or "reschedule for a later time". The phrase effectively communicates a delay without specifying a precise new timeframe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defer to a future time

Focuses on shifting something to a less specific time in the future.

reschedule for a later date

Emphasizes the act of changing the date of an event.

put off to a later point

Highlights the act of delaying something to a subsequent moment.

adjourn to a future occasion

Suggests a formal suspension of proceedings to another time.

delay until a subsequent time

Stresses the act of delaying until a later period.

suspend until a later stage

Highlights a temporary cessation until a subsequent phase.

hold over until future

Emphasizes keeping something for use or consideration at a future date.

shelve for the time being

Suggests temporarily setting aside something for future consideration.

hold in abeyance

Implies a state of temporary inactivity or suspension.

table for future discussion

Suggests postponing a topic for discussion at a later meeting.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "postpone until later" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases like "defer to a future date", "reschedule for a later time", or "hold in abeyance" for a more professional tone.

What does "postpone until later" imply about the new date?

The phrase "postpone until later" indicates that the new date or time is not yet determined. It simply signifies that the event will occur at some point in the future.

Is it redundant to say "postpone until later"?

While "postpone" inherently implies a delay to a later time, using "until later" can add emphasis and clarity, especially when the specific timeframe is undefined. The perceived redundancy is minimal and generally acceptable.

What are some alternatives to "postpone until later" in casual conversation?

In informal settings, you might use phrases like "put off until later", "delay until subsequent time" or simply "reschedule" depending on the context.