tarry
1[ tar-ee ]
/ ˈtær i /
Save This Word!
verb (used without object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn: He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.
to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.
to wait.
verb (used with object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
Archaic. to wait for.
noun, plural tar·ries.
a stay; sojourn.
QUIZ
SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?
Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!
Question 1 of 6
Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?
Origin of tarry
1First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English taryen “to delay,” tary “a delay”; origin unknown
synonym study for tarry
3. See wait.
OTHER WORDS FROM tarry
tar·ri·er, nounun·tar·ried, adjectiveun·tar·ry·ing, adjectiveOther definitions for tarry (2 of 2)
OTHER WORDS FROM tarry
tar·ri·ness, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use tarry in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for tarry
tarry
/ (ˈtærɪ) /
verb -ries, -rying or -ried
(intr) to delay in coming or going; linger
(intr) to remain temporarily or briefly
(intr) to wait or stay
(tr) archaic, or poetic to await
noun plural -ries
rare a stay
Derived forms of tarry
tarrier, nounWord Origin for tarry
C14 tarien, of uncertain origin
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