delay

[ dih-ley ]

/ dɪˈleɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR delay ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to put off to a later time; defer; postpone: The pilot delayed the flight until the weather cleared.

to impede the process or progress of; retard; hinder: The dense fog delayed the plane's landing.

verb (used without object)

to put off action; linger; loiter: He delayed until it was too late.

noun

the act of delaying; procrastination; loitering.

an instance of being delayed: There were many delays during the train trip.

the period or amount of time during which something is delayed: The ballet performance began after a half-hour delay.

Nearby words

Origin of delay

1225–75; Middle English delaien (v.), delai(e) (noun) < Old French delaier (v.), delai (noun)

SYNONYMS FOR delay

2. slow, detain. 3. procrastinate, tarry. 4. tarrying, dawdling. 5. deferment, postponement, respite.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR delay ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

de·lay·a·ble, adjectivede·lay·er, nounde·lay·ing·ly, adverbpre·de·lay, noun, verb

un·de·lay·a·ble, adjectiveun·de·lay·ing, adjectiveun·de·lay·ing·ly, adverb

Synonym study

1. See defer¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for delay

The child almost died from the delay of an hour in seeking help.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dr. Melson says abstinence only training shows no delay in sexual activity.
The Next Frontier of Sex Ed: How Porn Twists Teens’ Brains|Aurora Snow|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is a case where delay is denial—with potentially deadly results.
My Insurance Company Killed Me, Despite Obamacare|Malcolm MacDougall|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was, I am told, a two-hour delay caused by concerns about the temperature of the fuel.
Virgin Galactic’s Flight Path to Disaster: A Clash of High Risk and Hyperbole|Clive Irving|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But delay hurts, deprivation is unfair, and waiting (and waiting) matters.
Last of the Anti-Gay Marriage Judges|Marc Solomon|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Becoming impatient of this delay, Madame Nelson pressed them for an explanation.
A Lady's Captivity among Chinese Pirates in the Chinese Seas|Fanny Loviot
We will leave these poor devils, in pity, to trade with others; but they must not delay us to make a pretence of earning money.
No Thoroughfare|Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins
They lent for nothing, but exacted damages for all delay in repayment.
An Introduction to the History of Western Europe|James Harvey Robinson
Some delay in their arrival home was occasioned by an untoward incident even before they finally left London.
The Story of the Cambrian|C. P. Gasquoine
The young man was still less disposed to be vexed with Wolf for his delay when Barbara appeared in Ursel's room.
Barbara Blomberg, Complete|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for delay

delay

/ (dɪˈleɪ) /

verb

(tr) to put off to a later time; defer

(tr) to slow up, hinder, or cause to be late; detain

(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

Derived Formsdelayer, noun

Word Origin for delay

C13: from Old French delaier, from des- off + laier, variant of laissier to leave, from Latin laxāre to loosen, from laxus slack, lax

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for delay

delay

c.1300, from Old French delaiier, from de- "away, from" (see de-) + laier "leave, let," probably a variant of Old French laissier, from Latin laxare "slacken, undo" (see lax). Related: Delayed; delaying.

delay

mid-13c., from Old French delaie, from delaiier (see delay (v.)).

delay

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Origin of delay

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for delay

delay

verb

noun

Word Origin for delay

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