delay, postpone, defer, suspend, prolong, put off

這些動詞或短語動詞均有“推延，延期”之意。

delay : 普通用詞，多指因外界原因推遲或耽誤，也可指有意推遲。

My delay in going abroad is due to my illness.(我推遲出國是因為我生病了。)

postpone : 正式用詞，語氣較強，多指有安排的延期，常指明延期到一定的時間。

They postponed leaving because of the weather.（他們因天氣原因而延遲離開。）

defer : 正式用詞，語氣強于postpone，多指故意拖延。

The department deferred the decision for six months.（這個部門推遲了六個月才作決定。）

suspend : 指暫時中斷以待某種條件的實現(xiàn)。

Both sides in the conflict have agreed temporarily to suspend hostilities.（沖突雙方同意暫時?；稹＃?/p>

prolong : 指把時間延長至超過正?；蛲ǔ５南薅?。

Two countries prolonged signing an agreement until details could be agreed on.（兩國推遲簽約直到就細節(jié)達成協(xié)議。）

put off : 口語用詞，與postpone同義，但較通俗。

The appointment was put off because of his illness.（由于他生病而推遲了約會。）

更多學習內(nèi)容請看：英語專四常見詞辨析系列>>>