adjourn

verb

ad·​journ ə-ˈjərn How to pronounce adjourn (audio)
adjourned; adjourning; adjourns

transitive verb

: to suspend indefinitely or until a later stated time
adjourn a meeting
Court is adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

intransitive verb

1
: to suspend a session indefinitely or to another time or place
Congress will not adjourn until the budget has been completed.
2
: to move to another place
We adjourned to the library.

Examples of adjourn in a Sentence

The chairperson has adjourned the meeting. Court is adjourned until 10:00 tomorrow. The meeting adjourned at 4:00. Congress will not adjourn until the budget has been completed.
Recent Examples on the Web His bail has been extended, and the case has been adjourned until next month. Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 4 Oct. 2024 Court was adjourned after Stines entered a not-guilty plea. Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 25 Sep. 2024 After pleading guilty, the judge adjourned the case until Nov. 20, when Smith will be sentenced. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2024 Other matters scheduled in the case also are adjourned without dates. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 14 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for adjourn 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adjourn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ajornen, ajournen, adjornen "to set a day for reconvening (a court or assembly), suspend temporarily, postpone," borrowed from Anglo-French ajorner, ajourner, from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + jorn, jor "day," going back to Late Latin diurnum (Latin, "daily ration, daybook"), from neuter of Latin diurnus "daily" — more at diurnal entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of adjourn was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near adjourn

Cite this Entry

“Adjourn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjourn. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

adjourn

verb
ad·​journ ə-ˈjərn How to pronounce adjourn (audio)
1
: to bring or come to a close for a period of time
Congress adjourned
adjourn a meeting
2
: to move to another place
let us adjourn to the sitting room
adjournment
-mənt
noun

Legal Definition

adjourn

transitive verb
ad·​journ ə-ˈjərn How to pronounce adjourn (audio)
: to put off further proceedings of either indefinitely or until a later stated time : close formally
adjourning the session

intransitive verb

: to suspend a session or meeting till another time or indefinitely : suspend formal business or procedure and disband
the congress will adjourn next month
adjournment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on adjourn

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