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:
A blocked street can delay an ambulance or endanger someone whose emergency has nothing to do with immigration enforcement.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Inclement weather prompted another delay and the launch being scheduled for Friday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
On the other side, officials including New York Fed President John Williams think the Fed can delay hikes to see how inflation unfolds.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers said some of its services may be subject to disruption or delay as a result of the incident.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The cake was cut into slices and gobbled up without delay.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Surging demand for electricity from artificial-intelligence data centers—combined with equipment backlogs, permitting delays, tariffs and yearslong waits to connect to the grid—are pushing up construction costs for every type of power plant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Two brand-new Boeing Air Force Ones are due to be delivered later this decade after a series of delays and cost overruns.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
These coins were supposed to be ready for July 4, but production delays at the U.S.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
There is some frustration from devolved administrations around the UK about the delays in Whitehall.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
The delays and damage angered Olmsted, but other matters distressed him even more.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Norris returned to the track just in front of Piastri, who had been delayed by a collision with Williams driver Carlos Sainz while lapping the Spaniard, who was penalised five seconds for the incident.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
I would add that the Salinger myth also delayed a reckoning with his most famous character’s mental health.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
The criticism surrounding Fire Point has had at least one tangible consequence, she acknowledges: some projects with foreign partners were delayed for several months for additional compliance procedures.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
If you predeceased him, he could claim survivor benefits based on the Social Security benefits you were entitled to at your death, including any delayed retirement credits you earned by waiting until 70.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
I told them that one life was bad enough to lose, and that if they delayed they would sacrifice Miss Lucy.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
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
The fines against Google have been expected for months as part of a probe that began in 2024, but Brussels has faced claims of delaying the move over fears of hurting ties with Washington.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
And at that point, customers will draw down inventories before they buy new chips, delaying revenue for the chip makers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
I’m not delaying anything, I just don’t see the point in going over.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
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.
