relay

1 of 2

verb (1)

re·​lay ˈrē-ˌlā  ri-ˈlā 

relayed; relaying

transitive verb

1

a

: to place or dispose in relays

b

: to provide with relays

2

: to pass along by relays

news was relayed to distant points

3

: to control or operate by a relay

relay

2 of 2

verb (2)

re·​lay (ˌ)rē-ˈlā 

relaid (ˌ)rē-ˈlād  ; relaying

transitive verb

: to lay again

relay track

Examples of relay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Once in position, the crews relay information about weather conditions and water patterns back to the command center in Philadelphia to develop a plan for the most accurate search. —Kerri Corrado, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Reporters emailed the judge to no avail and asked a court officer to relay a note to him, but the officer refused. —ABC News, 3 June 2026

Rieara recalled Tuesday afternoon while relaying the story in front of the now-famous subway entrance. —Nick Friedell, New York Times, 3 June 2026

The orbiter helped relay information from NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers back to Earth during surface operations. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, to release a set of fresh hounds, take a fresh horse, from Middle French relaier, from re- + laier to let go, leave — more at delay

Verb (2)

re- + lay entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1757, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing relay

• medley relay

Rhymes for relay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

relay

1 of 3 noun

re·​lay ˈrē-ˌlā 

1

: a fresh supply (as of horses or people) arranged to relieve others

2

a

: a race between teams in which each team member covers an assigned part of the course

b

: one of the divisions of a relay

3

: an electromagnetic device in which the opening or closing of one circuit operates another device (as a switch in another circuit)

4

: the act of passing along (as a message or a ball) by stages

also : one of such stages

the shortstop's relay from center field was too late to catch the runner

relay

2 of 3 verb

re·​lay ˈrē-ˌlā  ri-ˈlā 

relayed; relaying

1

a

: to place or arrange in relays

b

: to provide with relays

2

: to pass along by stages

news was relayed by satellites

relay

3 of 3 verb

re·​lay (ˈ)rē-ˈlā 

relaid -ˈlād  ; relaying

: to lay again