DictionarytablePostponing consideration
verb

table

To postpone formal consideration of a proposal, chiefly in American usage.

The committee votes to table the proposal until next month.

Etymology

Legislative business could be laid on the table. American procedural usage developed this into setting a proposal aside and postponing its consideration.

More examples

  • They tabled the motion to allow further study.
  • We should table this discussion for now.
  • The chair suggested tabling the issue.

Forms

table · tables · tabled · tabling

Similar words

defer
More generally means postponing action or discussion.
postpone
The straightforward general term for moving something to a later time.