buy time

phrase

: to delay an imminent action or decision : stall

Examples of buy time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dropping water levels could imperil Lake Powell's ability to generate electricity, and federal officials have been pulling water out of smaller reservoirs upstream to help buy time. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

But with the national debt now above $40 trillion, the government may have only bought time. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Regardless, the rhetoric has stabilizing benefits that can effectively buy time. — Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Someone who wants to know the charges before answering them is always suspected of buying time. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 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