delay
Americanverb (used with object)
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delays,
present (3rd person singular)
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delayed,
past participle, past
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delaying
present participle
verb (used without object)
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delays,
present (3rd person singular)
-
delayed,
past participle, past
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delaying
present participle
noun
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delays
plural
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the act of delaying; procrastination.
- Synonyms:
- loitering
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an instance of being delayed.
There were many delays during the train trip.
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the period or amount of time during which something is delayed.
The ballet performance began after a half-hour delay.
verb
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(tr) to put off to a later time; defer
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(tr) to slow up, hinder, or cause to be late; detain
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(intr) to be irresolute or put off doing something; procrastinate
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(intr) to linger; dawdle
noun
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the act or an instance of delaying or being delayed
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the interval between one event and another; lull; interlude
Usage
What does delay mean? As a verb, delay means to put something off or postpone it until later, or to cause something to take longer or to be late. As a noun, delay means an instance of something being postponed till later, or the amount of time between when something was supposed to happen and when it does happen (the lull or interlude). Example: The convention has not been canceled—it has been delayed until we can find a proper venue.
Synonym Usage
See defer 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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delayernoun
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predelaynoun
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delayableadjective
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undelayableadjective
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undelayingadjective
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delayinglyadverb
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undelayinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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delaysimple
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delayssimple
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have delayedperfect
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has delayedperfect
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am delayingprogressive
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are delayingprogressive
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is delayingprogressive
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have been delayingperfect progressive
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has been delayingperfect progressive
Past
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delayedsimple
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had delayedperfect
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was delayingprogressive
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were delayingprogressive
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had been delayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of delay
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English delaien (verb), delai(e) (noun), from Old French delaier (verb), delai (noun)
Explanation
A delay is a wait or a postponement. An unexpected delay before the start of a play might make the audience restless and noisy. During a delay, you have to wait around for things to begin. Delay is also a verb: "That burnt pizza is going to delay dinner for at least another hour." You can also delay by loitering or hanging around: "The performer always delays when he's nervous about singing in front of a crowd." Delay comes from the Old French delaiier, from the roots de-, "not," and laier, "leave."
Vocabulary lists containing delay
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 3
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Greetings, World Traveler! — List 2
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"Building Design and Construction Handbook," Vocabulary from Section 1
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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.
See Examples For:
“Nick cannot show that Mr. Kanin’s conduct — rather than the unresolved legal question that persists under an entirely different trustee — caused any delay in his receipt of the distribution.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Weddings started late this year after there was a half-hour delay in opening the festival grounds, leaving everyone waiting behind security.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
This is about players who deliberately delay the restart of play, so a countdown does not begin as soon as the ball goes out.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
"We therefore view the continued delay in the transparent announcement and verification of presidential results with grave concern," he added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
There was a delay, no more than a second, and it fell to their feet with a solid thunk.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
In a letter to Council President Harris-Dawson, the Crenshaw Corridor Business District demanded answers, as well as a request for a business and resident relief fund for those impacted by the prolonged construction and delays.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Here’s how you can avoid delays this summer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Alphabet’s artificial-intelligence capabilities have received intense scrutiny in recent weeks as its latest Gemini model experiences delays.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
T-levels are also continuing to expand as part of reforms to technical education, although the new qualifications have faced challenges including delays, concerns over student retention and issues with some assessments.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Even the fine weather that prevailed in the first couple of weeks of April caused delays.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Australian authorities had initially planned a nationwide gun buyback, though plans have been delayed over funding and how it would be implemented.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
The regulator, Ofwat, said the extra spending would enable the firms to support growth and better environmental outcomes, and ensure important upgrades were not delayed.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
While his sentencing was delayed to a later date, Sandoval can only receive life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty under California law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Kemp said he remains skeptical of those figures given the possibility that some orders could eventually be cancelled or delayed.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
The hobbits listened with delight; and Frodo was glad in his heart, and blessed the kindly weather, because it delayed them from departing.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Others advise delaying Social Security benefits as long as possible, especially if you expect to live a long life.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
It was, they both said, much better than the one they saw in New York back in April 2024 - and well worth delaying their journey home for.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
In addition, Paramount said that delaying the transaction until next spring will add $190 million in bridge loan financing costs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The strategy, however, risks alienating Iran’s Arab neighbors and is delaying delivery of the economic relief badly needed by its economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
With those delaying tactics we hoped we could gain a life-saving seventy ticks of a second hand.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
