delaying action

American  

noun

Military.

1. a maneuver in which a defensive force delays the advance of a superior enemy force by withdrawing while inflicting the maximum destruction possible without engaging in decisive combat.

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delaying action British  

noun

1. a measure or measures taken to gain time, as when weaker military forces harass the advance of a superior enemy without coming to a pitched battle

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

delaying action

The Open Seas coalition of scientists, activists and some fishermen accuse ministers of delaying action to protect at least 30% of Scotland's inshore waters, and are preparing to present a petition at the Scottish parliament.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

Authors of the report say that timeline “falls far short of protecting groundwater by delaying action until 2040.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2023

He argues that, while accurate data is needed, the search for ever-more-accurate numbers has become a form of delaying action itself.

From Salon ● Nov. 16, 2022

But they said the longer-term costs of delaying action would be great.

From Reuters ● Feb. 15, 2022

The position held by the enemy was a very strong one, either for a delaying action or for a defensive battle.

From 1914 by French, John Denton Pinkstone, Earl of Ypres