delay
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
the act of delaying; procrastination.
- Synonyms:
- 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.
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
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
-
delayernoun
-
predelaynoun
-
delayableadjective
-
undelayableadjective
-
undelayingadjective
-
delayinglyadverb
-
undelayinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
delaysimple
-
delayssimple
-
have delayedperfect
-
has delayedperfect
-
am delayingprogressive
-
are delayingprogressive
-
is delayingprogressive
-
have been delayingperfect progressive
-
has been delayingperfect progressive
Past
-
delayedsimple
-
had delayedperfect
-
was delayingprogressive
-
were delayingprogressive
-
had been delayingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
The models indicated that a long delay in crystallization can keep magma relatively fluid, allowing it to rise rapidly toward the surface.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
That could potentially delay the transaction for more than a year, since the opposing sides can’t agree on when they want the trial to begin.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
The delay is partly because of a bottleneck at De Havilland Canada, the manufacturer of the plane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Global players' union Fifpro called on Fifa to "reconsider its proposal without further delay".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
The widow apologized to the admiral for the delay, but her position was clear: She would neither accept nor decline his offer of marriage until after the séance.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
If you decide not to serve, however, the law firm recommends that you do so promptly so the estate can be administered without unnecessary delays.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
On Friday, Paramount said further delays “harm the many individuals outside this courtroom who will be denied the expanded content offerings and industry stability that a combined Paramount-WBD promises to bring.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
The researchers repeated the measurement with the X-ray pulse arriving at many different delays after the initial laser pulse.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
The results included $280 million in losses on the VC-25B program for the presidential plane, Air Force One, which has been beset by delays and cost overruns.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
He viewed the delays as an opportunity to spend time detailing the map.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed its vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general this week.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026
Data Center Watch, a tracker run by AI intelligence firm 10a Labs, says at least 75 US projects worth some $130 billion were delayed or blocked in the first quarter of 2026.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
He made another offer to those now having second thoughts about their tattoos: “We’re also ready to cover associated removal costs with anyone facing any delayed regret.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Thursday’s vote to approve his nomination by the Senate Judiciary Committee was delayed.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
‘I am wide awake now, and I remember so many things that want explaining. Why were you delayed? You ought to tell me that at least.’
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
"We are now delaying any new thoughts of making funeral plans because this man has placed serious doubts in our minds over the honesty and integrity of funeral companies."
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
In his memo, Ellison said delaying the deal until after a trial before Martínez-Olguín made sense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
The means they deployed were not violent resistance, but warning, watching, accompanying, documenting, delaying, material support, and refusing isolation.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Claude replied that delaying benefits might make sense.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
For a while we just stand there in silence, delaying the inevitable.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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.
