tarry

¹ American  

[tar-ee] / ˈtær i /

verb (used without object)

tarried, tarrying

1. to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn.

   He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.

   Synonyms:

   abide, stop, lodge, rest

   Antonyms:

   leave

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

3. to wait.

---

verb (used with object)

tarried, tarrying

1. Archaic. to wait for.

noun

plural

tarries

1. a stay; sojourn.

tarry ² American  

[tahr-ee] / ˈtɑr i /

adjective

tarrier, tarriest

1. of or like tar; smeared with tar.

---

tarry British  

/ ˈtærɪ /

verb

1. (intr) to delay in coming or going; linger

2. (intr) to remain temporarily or briefly

3. (intr) to wait or stay

4. archaic (tr) to await

---

noun

1. rare a stay

Related Words

See wait.

Other Word Forms

• tarrier noun
• tarriness noun
• untarried adjective
• untarrying adjective

Etymology

Origin of tarry¹

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

Origin of tarry¹

First recorded in 1545–55; tar ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

On Gawain’s deathbed he realizes what is at stake and writes to Lancelot to “make no tarrying” and come to Arthur’s rescue.

From The Wall Street Journal

This time, we deliberately tarried for the scores of curious locals and drivers who wanted to know about our bike, our route, our motivation and “Are you still talking?”

From The Wall Street Journal

I see the final visitors depart, many tarrying until the last second.

From The Wall Street Journal

But we could not tarry long there out in the open.

From Literature

The ticking watch urged him not to tarry.

From Literature