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Definition of delay
1a : the act of postponing, hindering, or causing something to occur more slowly than normal : the state of being delayed get started without delayb : 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
From the M-W Editors
Examples of delay in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of delay from the Web
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But as weeks wore on and shipping delays mounted, customers grew impatient and speculation mounted that the promo was a scam.
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Construction ran into delays with gas lines and other unexpected problems in modernizing the area underneath the historic buildings around the square.
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Senators were informed of the delay at a Republican lunch, headed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
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A maritime strike created further delays; when the bridge finally opened in January, the guardrails for the two 5-foot-wide walkways that were to be installed on each side of the bridge were still in the hold of a ship at San Pedro.
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The derailment resulted in the suspension of the C subway line, as well as extensive delays in a handful of others.
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Motorists are advised to expect traffic delays and to allow additional travel time.
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In the video posted on Evening Urgant’s website, there’s a bit of a delay for the translation and for the host to figure out whether or not Colbert is serious.
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Any added delay increases the risk of disease transmission, so time is of the essence.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'delay'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of delay
see 2delay
delay
Definition of delay
transitive verb
1 : put off, postpone delay a departure They're delaying marriage or, increasingly, not getting married at all … — Irin Carmon
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
3 : 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
intransitive verb
: to move or act slowly This offer ends soon, so don't delay. delayed in responding to my message; also : to cause delay
delayer
nounExamples of delay in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of delay from the Web
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Saturn asks us to sacrifice and delay pleasure, so this is no surprise.
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One of her most unconventional moves thus far has been delaying her move to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in favor of staying in New York City while her 11-year-old son, Barron, finished the school year.
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That’s day’s first-round playoff game at Scripps Ranch was delayed an hour because of the lockdown.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'delay'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of delay
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
Synonym Discussion of delay
delay, procrastinate, lag, loiter, dawdle, dally mean to move or act slowly so as to fall behind. delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure). we cannot delay any longer procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. procrastinates about making decisions lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others. lagging behind in technology loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time. loitered at several store windows children dawdling on their way home from school dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary. stop dallying and get to work
DeLay
playDefinition of DeLay
Thomas (Dale) 1947– American politician
DELAY Defined for English Language Learners
delay
playDefinition of delay for English Language Learners
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: a situation in which something happens later than it should
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: the amount of time that you must wait for something that is late
delay
Definition of delay for English Language Learners
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: to wait until later to do something : to make something happen later
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: to make (something or someone) late : to make (something or someone) take longer than expected or planned
DELAY Defined for Kids
Definition of delay for Students
1 : a putting off of something We began without delay.
2 : the time during which something is delayed We will have a delay of 30 minutes.
Definition of delay for Students
delayed
;delaying
1 : to put off Because of the baseball schedule, Stanley's trial was delayed several months. — Louis Sachar, Holes
2 : to stop or prevent for a time Bad weather delayed our flight.
3 : to move or act slowly We cannot delay any longer.
Learn More about delay
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See words that rhyme with delay Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for delay Spanish Central: Translation of delay Nglish: Translation of delay for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of delay for Arabic speakers
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