student asking question

What's the main difference between "delay" and "postpone"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

To my understanding, "postpone" is more formal and is planned well in advance of something happening. A "delay" can be unplanned and within a shorter range of time to the event or thing happening. Ex: The airline delayed my flight by three hours. Ex: We may have to postpone the wedding by a month. Ex: Jerry caused the delay by oversleeping. Ex: She's going to postpone the event.

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