relay

1 of 3

noun

re·​lay ˈrē-ˌlā 

1

a

: a supply (as of horses) arranged beforehand for successive relief

b

: a number of persons who relieve others in some work

worked in relays around the clock

2

a

: a race between teams in which each team member successively covers a specified portion of the course

b

: one of the divisions of a relay

3

: an electromagnetic device for remote or automatic control that is actuated by variation in conditions of an electric circuit and that operates in turn other devices (such as switches) in the same or a different circuit

4

: servomotor

5

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

also : one of such stages

relay

2 of 3

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

3 of 3

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

Noun

Our relay team is training for next weekend's race.

a satellite relay of a television signal

We set up a relay to carry buckets of water to the campsite.

They worked in relays to clear the rubble.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The event will include giveaways, prizes, barbecue hot dogs, a meet and greet with San Diego Police Department volunteers, photo ops with Skateboard Hall of Famers and officers, patrol cars, a four-person relay race and a fastest lap contest. — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

The court doesn’t have a K’iche’-to-English interpreter; his hearing required relay interpretation through Spanish. — Meena Shah, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

Licata told attendees that all their responses, both written and spoken, would be relayed to the Board of Managers, which was not present for the session. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026

The on-duty controller relayed that information to the helicopter pilots, who then reported seeing the commercial flight and decided to briefly delay Marine One. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, set of fresh hounds, from relayen

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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