buy time

phrase

: to delay an imminent action or decision : stall

Examples of buy time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For instance, say a healthy food brand buys time on the broadcast. — Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Acclimatisation builds resilience; cooling and hydration buy time. — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Parties have exploited lulls in fighting to buy time, rebuild capabilities and consolidate political or territorial gains ahead of the next round of conflict. — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

History demonstrates that Tehran uses negotiations primarily to buy time, relieve pressure, and rebuild its capabilities. — Hussain Abdul-Hussain, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for buy time

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime