reschedule

Reschedule is a verb meaning to arrange a planned event to occur at a different time or date than originally scheduled. It is widely used in professional and personal contexts, including meetings, medical appointments, travel, classes, and court proceedings. The act of rescheduling involves selecting a new time, notifying involved parties, and obtaining confirmation. The term emphasizes the change of timing rather than cancellation of the event itself.

In usage, reschedule is often contrasted with postpone and cancel. Postpone typically implies delaying to a later date, possibly without fixing a new time, whereas cancel ends the event unless it is reinitiated. Rescheduling can be done by mutual agreement or unilateral decision, depending on the context and the authority of the organizer. In formal settings, rescheduling may require official notification and adherence to policy or notice periods.

When rescheduling, best practices include proposing one or more alternative times, checking participants' availability, providing a clear rationale, and confirming the new schedule in writing. Scheduling tools and calendar apps can help manage invitations and updates. The impact of a reschedule includes potential changes to logistics, costs, and stakeholder notifications, but it can also preserve attendance and organizational priorities by accommodating conflicts while maintaining the plan.