delay

[dih-ley]

verb (used with object)

1. to put off to a later time; defer; postpone.

   The pilot delayed the flight until the weather cleared.

2. to impede the process or progress of; retard; hinder.

   The dense fog delayed the plane's landing.

   Synonyms: detain, slow

verb (used without object)

1. to put off action; linger; dally.

   He delayed until it was too late.

   Synonyms: tarry, procrastinate

noun

1. the act of delaying; procrastination.

   Synonyms: loitering

2. an instance of being delayed.

   There were many delays during the train trip.

   Synonyms: respite, deferment

3. the period or amount of time during which something is delayed.

   The ballet performance began after a half-hour delay.

delay

/ dɪˈleɪ /

verb

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

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

3. (intr) to be irresolute or put off doing something; procrastinate

4. (intr) to linger; dawdle

noun

1. the act or an instance of delaying or being delayed

2. the interval between one event and another; lull; interlude

Other Word Forms

• delayable adjective
• delayer noun
• delayingly adverb
• predelay noun
• undelayable adjective
• undelaying adjective
• undelayingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of delay¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English delaien (verb), delai(e) (noun), from Old French delaier (verb), delai (noun)

Word History and Origins

Origin of delay¹

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

Synonym Study

See defer ¹.

Example Sentences

It described the industry as "near-monopolistic", and said both civil and defence programmes are prone to "large cost overruns and schedule delays".

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News that it faced data center construction delays helped drive its shares down 46% this month, though they remain up 79% since the company’s initial public offering in March.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But questions were also raised over the scale of the programme, the strength of safeguards against fraud and error, and whether it delayed people taking up new work roles.

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According to a recent survey by Barclays, 55% of business leaders say they are delaying investment decisions until they have seen the Budget.

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Ricky explains that Skyler has delayed development in speech and motor skills, but is undergoing infusion therapy, which gets the treatment to his body, but not his brain.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• adjourn 
• bar 
• block 
• defer 
• detain 
• hamper 
• hold 
• impede 
• keep 
• obstruct 
• postpone 
• prevent 
• prolong 
• put off 
• restrict 
• shelve 
• stall 
• stay 
• suspend 
• withhold 

When To Use

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.