delay
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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the act of delaying; procrastination.
- Synonyms:
- loitering
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an instance of being delayed.
There were many delays during the train trip.
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the period or amount of time during which something is delayed.
The ballet performance began after a half-hour delay.
verb
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(tr) to put off to a later time; defer
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(tr) to slow up, hinder, or cause to be late; detain
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(intr) to be irresolute or put off doing something; procrastinate
-
(intr) to linger; dawdle
noun
-
the act or an instance of delaying or being delayed
-
the interval between one event and another; lull; interlude
Usage
What does delay mean? As a verb, delay means to put something off or postpone it until later, or to cause something to take longer or to be late. As a noun, delay means an instance of something being postponed till later, or the amount of time between when something was supposed to happen and when it does happen (the lull or interlude). Example: The convention has not been canceled—it has been delayed until we can find a proper venue.
Synonym Usage
See defer 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
undelayingadjective
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undelayableadjective
-
predelaynoun
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delayinglyadverb
-
delayernoun
-
delayableadjective
-
undelayinglyadverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have delayedperfect
-
has delayedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been delayingperfect progressive
-
am delayingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been delayingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is delayingprogressive 3rd person singular
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delayssingular 3rd person
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are delayingprogressive
-
delayingparticiple
Past
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had delayedperfect
-
were delayingprogressive plural
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had been delayingperfect progressive
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delayedparticiple
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delayedsimple
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was delayingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of delay
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English delaien (verb), delai(e) (noun), from Old French delaier (verb), delai (noun)
Explanation
A delay is a wait or a postponement. An unexpected delay before the start of a play might make the audience restless and noisy. During a delay, you have to wait around for things to begin. Delay is also a verb: "That burnt pizza is going to delay dinner for at least another hour." You can also delay by loitering or hanging around: "The performer always delays when he's nervous about singing in front of a crowd." Delay comes from the Old French delaiier, from the roots de-, "not," and laier, "leave."
Vocabulary lists containing delay
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 3
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Greetings, World Traveler! — List 2
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"Building Design and Construction Handbook," Vocabulary from Section 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In March, the City Council adopted a strategy to delay the effects of SB 79 citywide by upzoning 55 single-family and low-density areas, allowing four- to 16-unit buildings up to four stories tall.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Current medications do not cure the disease, but rather -- at most -- delay its progression by several months.
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
But going public requires making a company's internal finances public, a process that both loss-making companies will want to delay for as long as possible.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Some were forced to take on jobs after retirement just to survive, while others chose to delay or defer retirement until the mess was closer to being resolved.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Through his law practice, McKissick also emerged as the leader of the fight to desegregate Durham's public schools, guiding black parents through the maze of requirements devised by the school board to delay integration.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
