1
a
: the act of postponing, hindering, or causing something to occur more slowly than normal : the state of being delayed
get started without delay
b
: an instance of being delayed
apologized for the delay
a rain delay
2
: the time during which something is delayed
waited out a delay of 30 minutes
delayed; delaying; delays
1
2
: to stop, detain, or hinder for a time
The mails were delayed by heavy snows.
… issued executive orders delaying the release of records from Ronald Reagan's administration …—
Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisher3
: to cause to be slower or to occur more slowly than normal
delay a child's development
… a drug that not only can extend life by delaying the onset of aging-related diseases …—Bill Gifford
Bill Gifford
: to move or act slowly
This offer ends soon, so don't delay.
delayed in responding to my message
also
: to cause delay
delayer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of delay in a Sentence
Noun
Do you know what's causing the delay?
a number of flight delays
After months of delay, construction on the new school began.
Airline travelers are experiencing delays of up to three hours.
Verb
The doctor wants to delay surgery for a few weeks.
She's planning to delay her retirement.
He delayed too long, and now it's too late.
“Don't delay! Sale ends Saturday.”
Production problems delayed the introduction of the new model by several months.
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Recent Examples on the WebCori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2023
Another premium credit card, The Platinum Card from American Express, includes trip cancellation, interruption, and trip delay insurance.
—Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2023
An audit released in July found that delays in city hiring were largely the result of individual departments — not the Personnel Department or the volunteer commissioners who oversee it.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2023
Up to $100 per day for up to three days in baggage delay insurance to cover essential items in the event that your baggage is delayed by more than 12 hours.
—Ben Luthi, wsj.com, 23 Sep. 2023
The ongoing strikes have shut down most television and film production for months, resulting in thousands of people out of work and the delay of many films and TV shows that were both in the middle of and/or slated to begin filming.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 23 Sep. 2023
And, with days until the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, retires, the Senate overcame GOP Senator Tommy Tuberville’s months-long delay on military promotions and confirmed General Charles Q. Brown Jr. to fill the U.S. military’s top job.
—The Editors, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2023
Dorothy instilled a lifetime love of the pinstripes in her family — and during a rain delay in October 2022, Jalen excitedly visited his uncle’s display in the Yankee Museum.
—Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2023
Also, Limp proved his first point with an uncomfortable silence about the length of an Alexa delay, which was pretty great.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 21 Sep. 2023
Gabe Cohen, CNN, 11 Sep. 2023
They are done to delay relapse after patients have already been treated with other drugs to bring their blood cancer into remission.
—Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
By November 2020, Shine Distillery had already been seen its opening delayed by a federal government shutdown, then faced a lengthy closure during Oregon’s first indoor dining ban.
—Mrussell, oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2023
For example, nearly 16,000 comments were solicited against a new interpretation of Title IX that was later delayed.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2023
It was scheduled for 4:05 p.m. but delayed by weather.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Here are five thoughts from Week 3 of the 2023 Texas high school football season:
Weather ends a dozen games early
With storms passing through the Dallas north suburbs after 8 p.m. Friday evening, dozens of games in the area were delayed due to lightning.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 9 Sep. 2023
The match was delayed for nearly an hour after four spectators protested against climate change.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2023
Some defendants want an early trial and some want to move the case to federal court, while Trump will likely seek to delay everything until after Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023
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Noun
Here are seven home improvement ideas to spruce up your space while dealing with renovation delays.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2023
Another premium credit card, The Platinum Card from American Express, includes trip cancellation, interruption, and trip delay insurance.
—Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2023
An audit released in July found that delays in city hiring were largely the result of individual departments — not the Personnel Department or the volunteer commissioners who oversee it.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2023
Up to $100 per day for up to three days in baggage delay insurance to cover essential items in the event that your baggage is delayed by more than 12 hours.
—Ben Luthi, wsj.com, 23 Sep. 2023
The ongoing strikes have shut down most television and film production for months, resulting in thousands of people out of work and the delay of many films and TV shows that were both in the middle of and/or slated to begin filming.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 23 Sep. 2023
And, with days until the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, retires, the Senate overcame GOP Senator Tommy Tuberville’s months-long delay on military promotions and confirmed General Charles Q. Brown Jr. to fill the U.S. military’s top job.
—The Editors, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2023
Dorothy instilled a lifetime love of the pinstripes in her family — and during a rain delay in October 2022, Jalen excitedly visited his uncle’s display in the Yankee Museum.
—Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2023
Also, Limp proved his first point with an uncomfortable silence about the length of an Alexa delay, which was pretty great.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 21 Sep. 2023
Verb
As states lower the certification standards to become a teacher, education experts worry these tactics could delay students’ recovery from pandemic learning loss.
—Gabe Cohen, CNN, 11 Sep. 2023
They are done to delay relapse after patients have already been treated with other drugs to bring their blood cancer into remission.
—Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
By November 2020, Shine Distillery had already been seen its opening delayed by a federal government shutdown, then faced a lengthy closure during Oregon’s first indoor dining ban.
—Mrussell, oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2023
For example, nearly 16,000 comments were solicited against a new interpretation of Title IX that was later delayed.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2023
It was scheduled for 4:05 p.m. but delayed by weather.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Here are five thoughts from Week 3 of the 2023 Texas high school football season:
Weather ends a dozen games early
With storms passing through the Dallas north suburbs after 8 p.m. Friday evening, dozens of games in the area were delayed due to lightning.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 9 Sep. 2023
The match was delayed for nearly an hour after four spectators protested against climate change.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2023
Some defendants want an early trial and some want to move the case to federal court, while Trump will likely seek to delay everything until after Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'delay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French delaier, from de- + laier to leave, from lai-, present and future stem of lesser, laisser to leave, from Latin laxare to slacken, from laxus loose — more at slack
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of delay was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing delay
Dictionary Entries Near delay
Cite this Entry
“Delay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delay. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
delay
1 of 2 noun
de·lay
di-ˈlā 
1
: the act of delaying : the state of being delayed
start without delay
2
: the time during which something is delayed
a delay of 30 minutes
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on delay
Nglish: Translation of delay for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of delay for Arabic Speakers
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