Cool MateDelay vs Postpone
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Delay
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Postpone
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Delay
| Delay | Postpone | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈleɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈleɪ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pəʊstˈpəʊn//🇺🇸 //poʊstˈpoʊn// |
| Meaning | To make something happen later than planned. | To delay something to a later time. |
| Example | Due to the heavy traffic, there was a significant delay in our arrival time. | We had to postpone the meeting due to bad weather. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | considerable, enormous, lengthy, series, be subject to, be plagued by, encounter, occur, without delay, delay in, delay of, considerable, enormous, lengthy, series, be subject to, be plagued by, encounter, occur, without delay, delay in, delay of | postpone a meeting, postpone a decision, postpone an event |
| Antonyms | advance, hasten, expedite | advance, accelerate, hasten |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'delay' with 'defer' — 'defer' is often more formal., Using 'delayed' incorrectly in tense — check verb forms for accuracy., Overusing 'delay' in casual speech when simpler options like 'wait' are available. | Confusing with 'cancel' means to stop something completely., Using 'postponed' as a synonym for 'rescheduled' incorrectly. |
| Usage notes | Use 'delay' when referring to postponing events or actions. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'wait' might suffice. | 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: Delay vs Postpone
What's the difference between Delay and Postpone?
Delay: To make something happen later than planned. Postpone: To delay something to a later time.
Which is more common: Delay and Postpone?
Delay is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Delay and Postpone?
Postpone is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Delay and Postpone the same CEFR level?
Delay: B2, Postpone: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Delay and Postpone?
Delay: noun, Postpone: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Delay: Due to the heavy traffic, there was a significant delay in our arrival time. Postpone: We had to postpone the meeting due to bad weather.
Can I use Delay and Postpone interchangeably?
Not always. Delay 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.