delay
verb (used with object)
had delayed
-
past perfectof delay.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Google’s stock fell 2% on Friday after Bloomberg reported that the company had delayed the release of its newest powerful flagship model, Gemini 3.5 Pro.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
They also had delayed responses to visual stimuli, pointing to slower visual processing and reduced brain signaling efficiency.
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026
Although Musk argued that he had delayed taking action because he trusted Altman, the jury found that his claims were filed outside of the statute of limitations.
From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026
Wednesday’s announcement clears up weeks of uncertainty following a report that Meta had delayed the release of its coming AI model after it failed to outperform similar programs from rivals.
From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026
A hard winter had been followed by no sign of spring, and Maesie had delayed planting at first, hoping for sunshine and warmth before she subjected her seedlings to the cold earth.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
