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 Falcon's upper stage booster was on track to deploy the broadband internet relays (Starlink Group 11-20) about an hour after leaving the ground. —Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2025

The family handles surveillance, logistics, casualty evacuation, communications relay, and fire support. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025

Verb

It would likely be relayed through the Qataris to what remains of the team in Doha. —Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025

Western analysts believe the Luch/Olymp satellites are likely meant to eavesdrop on the signals relayed through other spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit. —Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025

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
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

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