What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
adjourn
Example
The judge decided to adjourn the hearing until next week. [adjourn: verb]
Example
The meeting has been adjourned until further notice. [adjourned: past tense]
Example
Let's adjourn to the conference room for the next part of the presentation. [adjourn: verb]
postpone
Example
The concert has been postponed due to bad weather. [postpone: verb]
Example
I had to postpone my dentist appointment because of a conflicting meeting. [postpone: verb]
Example
Let's postpone the project deadline until next month. [postpone: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Postpone is more commonly used than adjourn in everyday language. Postpone is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while adjourn is less common and typically used in formal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between adjourn and postpone?
Adjourn is more formal than postpone. It is typically used in formal settings such as court proceedings, while postpone can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
