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Consider this:

The meeting has been postponed.

How would the above example be said in AE or BE if the word "postponed" were to be replaced by its antonym?

Ayden Ferguson
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    "The meeting's been moved/brought forward" or "anticipated". But I suspect you're thinking of prepone, aren't you? :) – Mari-Lou A Mar 21 '21 at 15:21
  • Is this a trick question? In *Indian English* there's no doubt that the answer here is *prepone*. First recorded by the OED in 1917 (in New York), but it's never really caught on among "mainstream" Anglophones. – FumbleFingers Mar 21 '21 at 15:25
  • What do you actually mean by "opposite" and "antonym"? What situation do you want to describe? For example "the meeting has been brought forward" is commonly said in BrE but it isn't the opposite meaning, because a postponed meeting might not have a time/date, but be on hold. "Prepone" is not a commonly used term. – Weather Vane Mar 21 '21 at 15:27
  • There is no antonym for postpone. There is only a starting point in time for an event after which, if schedule, it is said to be postponed. – Lambie Mar 21 '21 at 15:40
  • @WeatherVane "Prepone" might be the word that describes what I meant by the antonym for "postpone". I was aiming to know that what native speakers of BE and AE call that word in their native languages, or what they use in place of "prepone". – Ayden Ferguson Mar 21 '21 at 18:03
  • @FumbleFingers It does answer my question. However, I was looking forward to knowing if both Brits and Americans use "brought forward" in place of "prepone". My above comment explains what I meant. :-) – Ayden Ferguson Mar 21 '21 at 18:06
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    As mentioned, in BrE "bring forward" is commonly used. I'm not sure many BrE speakers would understand "prepone". – Weather Vane Mar 21 '21 at 18:08
  • @Mari-LouA Yes. – Ayden Ferguson Mar 21 '21 at 18:09
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    The earlier dup might be misleading in suggesting *prepone* is "an Indian word", given it was first recorded in New York. It's just that this "transparent neologism" only actually gained traction in IE. You might find some useful info in Is “prepone” being used outside India? (where somewhat fittingly, the syntax of the question title positively *screams* "Posted by speaker of Indian English" :) – FumbleFingers Mar 21 '21 at 18:18
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    ...I recall some debate not too long ago regarding The meeting date has been advanced* by a week, which leaves many people uncertain whether it's been postponed or *preponed*. – FumbleFingers Mar 21 '21 at 18:20

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