英语单词Suspend, Postpone, Defer, Delay的区别

Suspend is to temporarily stop (临时停下来) an activity/event that is currently happening.

Examples:

All children were suspended from school due to the COVID19 pandemic breakout. (which means all children had been in the school before the pandemic, and they had to go their home temporarily)

由于新冠疫情的爆发，孩子们都停课了(孩子们之前一直在学校上课，被迫停下来)

The meeting was suspended because of lunch time.

午餐时间到了，会议临时停了下来。

Postpone is to move a planned activity/event that has not yet happened to a later date, which means it is in-purpose(有目的的) and reasonable(合理的) action, and this action is initiated(发起) by someone who has enough power to delay an existing plan.

Examples:

The All-Employee meeting is postponed to next week due to due to the accidental absence of company GM.

公司总经理的缺席导致全体员工大会推迟到下周了。

My boss decided to postpone the project deadline due to the unexpected longer lead time of the key equipment.

由于关键设备发货期超预期太多，我老板决定推迟项目的验收日期。

Defer also is to move a planned event to a later date in purpose, but it carries more negative connotation(消极意味).

Example:

The meeting was deferred to next Wednesday.

Delay is a period of time before an event happens. It can be used widely, but it can’t carry voluntary(自愿的) (in purpose) connotation(意味), because Delay is unpredictable(不可预知).

Examples:

I was delayed for the morning meeting because of heavy traffic on the way.

早上上班路上堵车严重，耽误了早会(会议并没有因为我的迟到而停下来)