to adjourn / postpone
Loading your saved state.
to adjourn / postpone
To postpone an official meeting, session, hearing, or decision to a later time.
Da kein Beschluss gefasst werden konnte, wurde die Sitzung auf nächste Woche vertagt.
Since no resolution could be passed, the meeting was adjourned until next week.
'Vertagen' (to adjourn/postpone) is an inseparable verb. It is made up of the prefix 'ver-' and the verb 'tagen', which means 'to hold a meeting/session'. 'Vertagen' is therefore the opposite of 'tagen'.
Der Vorstand hat beschlossen, die Entscheidung zu vertagen.
The board decided to postpone the decision.
This word belongs to formal language. It is mainly used in official contexts such as politics, the legal system, administration, or companies.
Der Richter vertagte die Verhandlung auf den nächsten Monat.
The judge adjourned the hearing until next month.
Common objects for 'vertagen' (to adjourn/postpone) are official events or decisions, for example: 'eine Sitzung vertagen' (to adjourn a meeting), 'eine Abstimmung vertagen' (to postpone a vote), 'eine Entscheidung vertagen' (to postpone a decision), or 'einen Termin vertagen' (to postpone an appointment/date).
Wir müssen den Punkt auf der Tagesordnung leider vertagen.
Unfortunately, we have to postpone the item on the agenda.
To indicate the new time, the preposition 'auf' with the accusative is used. For example: 'etwas auf nächste Woche vertagen' (to postpone something until next week) or 'auf unbestimmte Zeit vertagen' (to postpone indefinitely).
Die Debatte wurde auf einen späteren Zeitpunkt vertagt.
The debate was postponed until a later date.
to decide
'entscheiden' and 'vertagen' are often opposites when an open question is involved. With 'entscheiden', you arrive at a result or decide something. With 'vertagen', you postpone a meeting, hearing, or decision until later. The words can be confused because both can occur in official situations. The difference is simple: 'entscheiden' ends the open question; 'vertagen' leaves it open and postpones it.
Wegen neuer Informationen vertagt das Team die Entscheidung bis Montag.
Because of new information, the team postpones the decision until Monday.
Vor der Reise haben wir entschieden, mit dem Zug zu fahren.
Before the trip, we decided to travel by train.