tarry

1
[ tar-ee ]
See synonyms for: tarrytarriertarrying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
  1. to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn: He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.

  2. to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.

  1. to wait.

verb (used with object),tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
  1. Archaic. to wait for.

noun,plural tar·ries.
  1. a stay; sojourn.

Origin of tarry

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English taryen “to delay,” tary “a delay”; origin unknown

synonym study For tarry

3. See wait.

Other words for tarry

Opposites for tarry

Other words from tarry

  • tar·ri·er, noun
  • un·tar·ried, adjective
  • un·tar·ry·ing, adjective

Words Nearby tarry

Other definitions for tarry (2 of 2)

tarry2
[ tahr-ee ]

adjective,tar·ri·er, tar·ri·est.
  1. of or like tar; smeared with tar.

Origin of tarry

2
First recorded in 1545–55; tar1 + -y1

Other words from tarry

  • tar·ri·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tarry in a sentence

  • The east pier, as far as it was dry, was covered by the fashion and beauty—as well as by the fishy and tarry—of the town.

  • If thou be not a buyer of gold, nor a vendor of silver, tarry not at my door; I have no time for beggars.

    Kari the Elephant | Dhan Gopal Mukerji
  • Black Hoof was there with a large force, but he could not tarry without leaving the Scioto towns uncovered.

    A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter

British Dictionary definitions for tarry

tarry

/ (ˈtærɪ) /


verb-ries, -rying or -ried
  1. (intr) to delay in coming or going; linger

  2. (intr) to remain temporarily or briefly

  1. (intr) to wait or stay

  2. (tr) archaic, or poetic to await

nounplural -ries
  1. rare a stay

Origin of tarry

1
C14 tarien, of uncertain origin

Derived forms of tarry

  • tarrier, noun

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