tarry

¹ American  

[tar-ee] / ˈtær i /

verb (used without object)

tarried, tarrying

1. to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn.

   He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.

   Synonyms:

   abide, stop, lodge, rest

   Antonyms:

   leave

2. to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.

3. to wait.

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verb (used with object)

tarried, tarrying

1. Archaic. to wait for.

noun

tarries plural

1. a stay; sojourn.

tarry ² American  

[tahr-ee] / ˈtɑr i /

adjective

tarrier, tarriest

1. of or like tar; smeared with tar.

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tarry British  

/ ˈtærɪ /

verb

1. (intr) to delay in coming or going; linger

2. (intr) to remain temporarily or briefly

3. (intr) to wait or stay

4. archaic (tr) to await

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noun

1. rare a stay

Synonym Usage

See wait.

Other Word Forms

• tarrier
  noun
• tarriness
  noun
• untarried
  adjective
• untarrying
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tarry¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English taryen “to delay,” tary “a delay”; origin unknown

Origin of tarry²

First recorded in 1545–55; tar ¹ + -y ¹

Explanation

To tarry is to linger and take your time leaving. If you really like going to Sally’s Diner for dessert, you might tarry over coffee and end up leaving after they’ve closed the kitchen. The verb tarry is perfect for describing what happens when those relatives that you see once a year come to your house for lunch and never seem to leave. When people tarry they stick around and take a long time to depart, sometimes lurking or loitering, or sometimes enjoying each other's company. Tarry can also mean to hang around a place without purpose. You might tarry in the park until the day is fading and you have to go home.

Example Sentences

Waitrose sales rose by 6% to £4.1bn, and Mr Tarry said he expected customers would want to treat themselves over the festive period.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

Rayner added she did not go to New York with Tarry but she met up with him there.

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2024

The Sunday Times reported that Rayner had stayed in the flat of Lord Alli with Sam Tarry, who was then Labour MP for Ilford South, last December.

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2024

Mr Tarry, who will become only the seventh chairman of John Lewis, said it was a "great privilege" to lead the company.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2024

Tarry service officially began at eight, but it could begin at any time, whenever the Lord moved one of the saints to enter the church and pray.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin