Adjourn Meaning
/əˈd͡ʒɝn/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo postpone.
verbTo defer; to put off temporarily or indefinitely.
Sentence Examples
I move that the meeting adjourn.
The Diet will adjourn for three months.
Let's adjourn to the dining room for dinner.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The judge decided to ____ the trial until the witness could testify.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The judge decided to ____ the court until ten o'clock tomorrow.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English ajournen, from Old French ajorner (French ajourner), from the phrase a jor (nomé) ("to an (appointed) day").
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It is a common practice […]to adjourn the reformation of their lives to a further time."
— a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number)”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:
"The Form of this motion is, “When this assembly adjourns, it adjourns to meet at such a time.”"
— 1876, Henry Martyn Robert, Robert’s Rules of Order, Chicago: S.C. Griggs & Co., Article III, Section 10, pp. 25-26:
"When it's time for the fallout / And Saint Peter calls us all out / We'll just drop our agendas and adjourn"
— 1959, Tom Lehrer, “We Will All Go Together When We Go”:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The judge decided to ____ the trial until the witness could testify.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The judge decided to ____ the court until ten o'clock tomorrow.