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

delaware, delaware bay, delaware jargon, delaware water gap, delawarean, delay, delay line, delay screen, delayed, delayed action, delayed allergy

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 Forms

delayer, 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