delay

American  

[dih-ley] / dɪˈleɪ /

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

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

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

2. 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.

Related Words

See defer ¹.

Other Word Forms

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

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."

Example Sentences

Travellers had earlier faced up to two hours' delay reaching the port and up to a further two and half hours to complete processing at the terminal on Saturday morning.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Huge demand, including a flood of orders from individual investors, that sent the stock soaring contributed to the delay.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

He also tried in 2024 but didn’t get to his car in time in Charlotte because of a rain delay in Indianapolis.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

The Social Security Administration encourages people to delay claiming by offering a bump in payments if they wait.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

In March 1918, after much delay and hesitation, the Russians signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, surrendering to the Germans an area three times the size of Germany itself.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

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