Cool MateAwait vs Postpone
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Await
Top 3,000 (common)C1verb
Postpone
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Postpone
| Await | Postpone | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈweɪt/","/əˈweɪts/","/əˈweɪtɪd/","/əˈweɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈweɪt/","/əˈweɪts/","/əˈweɪtɪd/","/əˈweɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pəʊstˈpəʊn//🇺🇸 //poʊstˈpoʊn// |
| Meaning | to wait for something or someone | To delay something to a later time. |
| Example | He is in custody **awaiting trial**. | We had to postpone the meeting due to bad weather. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | anxiously, breathlessly, nervously, long awaited | postpone a meeting, postpone a decision, postpone an event |
| Antonyms | depart, continue, proceed | advance, accelerate, hasten |
| Common mistakes | Using 'await' without an object, e.g., 'I await.' should be 'I await your response.', 'Await for' is incorrect; 'await' does not take 'for'., Confusing with 'wait' which is more common in conversation. | Confusing with 'cancel' means to stop something completely., Using 'postponed' as a synonym for 'rescheduled' incorrectly. |
| Usage notes | Used in formal contexts, often in writing. Not typical in casual speech. Don't confuse with 'wait for'—they are similar but 'await' is used without 'for'. | Use 'postpone' in formal and neutral contexts. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler terms like 'delay' might be more appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Await vs Postpone
What's the difference between Await and Postpone?
Await: to wait for something or someone Postpone: To delay something to a later time.
Which is more common: Await and Postpone?
Postpone is the most common in everyday English.
Are Await and Postpone the same CEFR level?
Await: C1, Postpone: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Await and Postpone?
Await: verb, Postpone: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Await: He is in custody **awaiting trial**. Postpone: We had to postpone the meeting due to bad weather.
Can I use Await and Postpone interchangeably?
Not always. Await and Postpone are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.