as in wait
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there was a delay for our boarding while the airplane unloaded incoming passengers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to linger
to move or act slowly
she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to postpone
to assign to a later time
our guests delayed their departure until after dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of delay
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Trump’s latest enforcement delay raises questions about the status of a deal that could secure TikTok’s long-term future in the United States.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
Renee Umsted, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
Even before the $2.7 billion merger was completed last year, Saks’ vendor payments had been delayed for some time.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for delay
Noun
In 2024, police restricting access across a key bridge caused significant delays for spectators and people trying to enter the paddock.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Trump’s latest enforcement delay raises questions about the status of a deal that could secure TikTok’s long-term future in the United States.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
Verb
Collection services are delayed by one day, with Friday collected on Saturday, June 21.
—Renee Umsted, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
Even before the $2.7 billion merger was completed last year, Saks’ vendor payments had been delayed for some time.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for delay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delay
Noun
-
The program is a partnership between the two agencies and an effort to clear crash investigations more quickly in a region with clogged roads, a ballooning population and often-long wait times after minor accidents.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 June 2025
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And, Burke and the Pate brothers say the final season will be well worth the wait.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
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Each time a child left, the emotional toll was unbearable, and the sadness lingered long after they were gone.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
27 June 2025
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The camera lingers for too long on his pained, Grecian-bust features.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
The city of Cudahy has postponed its Independence Day Celebration that was set for Thursday, July 3.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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The item needs to come back to the commission for final approval, at which point it would be sent to voters on the November ballot — now in a special election since the main election has been postponed.—
Tess Riski,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2025
Verb
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But by the late 1970s, as negotiations over a treaty dragged on, Congress grew receptive to industry lobbyists seeking legislation that would protect their investments in mining sites beyond U.S. maritime jurisdiction.—
Time,
Time,
17 June 2025
-
What were the final few days like? Exhausting and dragging on.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Service businesses, however, cannot stockpile labor or defer rising operational costs, forcing them to adjust prices.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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The trend reached its apex with Ohtani, who agreed to defer 98 percent of his windfall until after his playing contract ends; the team is paying him just $2 million per season while using his celebrity to rake in untold millions through new sponsorships with Japanese companies.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Verb
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To make the stakes even higher, Player 39 crawls to the edge after the round ends.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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The next day, at 9:10 p.m., Boelter crawled out of a wooded area and surrendered to law enforcement.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Cunningham came to the defense of her teammate Clark, retaliating with less than a minute left on the clock after, earlier in the game, the Fever's superstar player was poked in the eye and then knocked to the ground by two separate Sun players.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
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As Clark backed Sheldon down at the top of the key, Sheldon poked Clark in the eye.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Data is automatically updated by government agencies and could lag real-time events.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
19 June 2025
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Their basketball operations department lagged behind in size and spending behind small-market franchises like the Oklahoma City Thunder.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Delay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delay. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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