delay

1 of 2

noun

de·​lay di-ˈlā 

dē-

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

delay

2 of 2

verb

delayed; delaying; delays

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 noun

Synonyms

Noun

• detainment
• detention
• holdback
• holding pattern
• holdup
• wait

Verb

• crawl
• creep
• dally
• dawdle
• diddle
• dillydally
• drag
• lag
• linger
• loiter
• lollygag
• lallygag
• mope
• poke
• shilly-shally
• tarry

Choose the Right Synonym for delay

delay, retard, slow, slacken, detain mean to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress.

delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

treatment that retards tumor growth

slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention

she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing

, slacken an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some lawyers predicted that it would be kicked up to federal court and buried in delays, largely because it was related to a federal-election campaign. —Michael Rothfeld Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024

But the activity has stood in stark contrast with the delays on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers for years have failed to deliver on Biden’s requests, leaving federal watchdogs underfunded. —Tony Romm, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

Like other circuits, AMC is grappling with a dramatic downturn at the box office so far this year because of delays due to the strikes. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024

This has caused a huge chasm in experiencing cultural workplace milestones, and a slight delay in young professionals learning social norms and even some key soft skills. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024

Officials warn drivers of delays, dangers ahead of solar eclipse In the weeks leading up to the celestial event, officials issued warnings about heavy traffic congestion and the danger of driving during the eclipse, including distracted pedestrians and the sudden change in light conditions. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

Andrew Nardi followed Meyer with a perfect seventh inning before George Soriano pitched a scoreless eighth and Matt Andriese held the Cardinals to two runs in the ninth (albeit after a 45-minute rain delay) to seal Miami’s first win of the 2024 season. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024

Nevertheless, Mercury retrograde could create delays and goofy mistakes. —Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2024

Tractor-trailers with clearance to use the tunnels will be inspected for hazardous materials, which may cause further delays. —Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

Legal challenges that advanced from Louisville Metro Council to the Kentucky Supreme Court over the demolition of the old Holy Name gym and school at Fourth Street and Haywood Avenue delayed those plans, the Courier Journal previously reported. —Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024

Plenty of economists argue that the official statistics in the consumer price index are delayed and aren’t accounting for real-time measures that show rents falling in many places. —Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

What to expect in Mayorkas impeachment proceedings The House planned to send articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, but will delay the transfer to the Senate until next week. —USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024

Nasty weather caused a break in Friday’s action, delaying evening sets by Deana Carter, Toby Keith and John Michael Montgomery by an hour. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024

Justice Cynthia Kern issued the ruling, rejecting claims from Trump's legal team that the trial should be delayed until a full panel of judges could hear arguments relating to a gag order on the former president. —Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 9 Apr. 2024

The cool weather this spring delayed some planting, but temperatures are heating up just in time for plant sales going on all over the state. —Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 8 Apr. 2024

Even now, facing four indictments, Mr. Trump is delaying three of the cases, much to prosecutors’ dismay. —William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

On the way to Puerto Rico from a stop in Chicago, their plane was slightly delayed. —Jenna Wang, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024

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

Phrases Containing delay

• without delay
• delay tactic

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

delay

2 of 2 verb

1

: postpone, put off

delay a trip

2

: to stop, detain, or hinder for a time

delayed by a storm

3

: to move or act slowly

delayer noun

Biographical Definition

DeLay

biographical name

De·​Lay di-ˈlā 

Thomas (Dale) 1947–     American politician