postponed indefinitely

USAGE SUMMARY

"postponed indefinitely" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that has been delayed without a specific date or period of time being set for when it will occur. For example, "The meeting has been postponed indefinitely due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Integration is postponed indefinitely.

The Economist

Parliamentary elections were postponed indefinitely in March.

The Economist

However, the project was postponed indefinitely.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Court cases have been postponed indefinitely.

The New York Times

All exchange openings are postponed indefinitely.

The New York Times

A court case has been postponed indefinitely.

The Guardian

[Update] The outage planned for 8/9 was postponed indefinitely.

Princeton University

Mr Bossi has postponed indefinitely its annual rally.

The Economist

Only last November its second summit was postponed indefinitely.

The Economist

His original ship-out date has been postponed indefinitely.

The New York Times

That rendezvous plan has now been postponed indefinitely.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "postponed indefinitely" when you want to clearly communicate that an event or action has been delayed without any plans for rescheduling in the near future. This conveys a stronger sense of uncertainty than a simple postponement.

Common error

While "postponed indefinitely" is widely understood, in highly formal or legal settings, consider using more precise language like "adjourned sine die" or "held in abeyance" to convey the specific nuance you intend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "postponed indefinitely" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the extent or duration of the postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in modifying verbs related to delaying events or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "postponed indefinitely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that conveys the indefinite delay of an event or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility makes it suitable for various contexts, though more formal alternatives may be preferred in specific settings. While it is commonly found in news and media, its usage extends to academia and general communication, signaling uncertainty about future rescheduling.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delayed without a set date

This alternative directly replaces "postponed indefinitely" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the lack of a future date.

indefinitely on hold

More concise alternative that keeps the same meaning.

put off with no new schedule

This suggests a more casual postponement, highlighting the absence of a revised timetable.

suspended without resumption date

Focuses on the suspension aspect and explicitly states that no resumption date has been defined.

shelved for the foreseeable future

This implies that the postponement is likely to be long-term, perhaps even permanent.

deferred to a later time without specification

This highlights the action of deferring and the lack of a precise or even approximate future date.

held in abeyance

This indicates a temporary suspension or suppression, suggesting the matter is being kept pending.

put on the back burner indefinitely

This idiom suggests that the matter is being given lower priority and its resumption is uncertain.

adjourned sine die

This is a formal, legal term that means to postpone a meeting or case without setting a date for resumption.

put into limbo

Implies a state of uncertainty and indefinite suspension.

FAQs

How to use "postponed indefinitely" in a sentence?

The phrase "postponed indefinitely" is typically used after a verb like "is", "has been", or "was" to indicate that an event or action has been delayed without a specific future date. For example: "The meeting has been postponed indefinitely."

What can I say instead of "postponed indefinitely"?

You can use alternatives like "delayed without a set date", "shelved for the foreseeable future", or "indefinitely on hold" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "postponed indefinitely" or "canceled"?

"Postponed indefinitely" implies that the event might happen at some unspecified future time, while "canceled" means it will not happen at all. The choice depends on whether there is any possibility of rescheduling.

What's the difference between "postponed indefinitely" and "delayed indefinitely"?

The terms are largely synonymous. Both "postponed indefinitely" and "delayed indefinitely" indicate an event or action has been put off without a specific future date. "Postponed" is slightly more formal than "delayed".