Synonyms of delaying

delaying

verb

present participle of delay

1

as in lingering

to move or act slowly

she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lingering
• dragging
• poking
• crawling
• stalling
• creeping
• lagging
• strolling
• playing
• dawdling
• loitering
• shuffling
• tarrying
• falling behind
• diddling
• dropping behind
• hanging fire
• marking time
• lollygagging
• moping
• dillydallying
• dallying
• idling
• lounging
• staggering
• shilly-shallying
• taking one's time
• dragging one's feet
• trifling
• fiddling (around)
• loafing
• hanging (around or out)
• inching
• fooling around
• puttering (around)
• decelerating
• sauntering
• pottering (around)
• easing
• messing around
• ambling
• procrastinating
• monkeying (around)
• temporizing
• slowing (down or up)
• lolling
• filibustering
• plodding
• lumbering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hastening
• hurrying
• rushing
• tearing
• speeding
• running
• flying
• ripping
• racing
• scurrying
• bolting
• dashing
• whirling
• barreling
• zipping
• whizzing
• coursing
• whisking
• scrambling
• scooting
• rocketing
• careering
• scudding
• darting
• hustling
• hurtling
• running
• accelerating
• stampeding
• humping
• breezing
• bowling
• galloping
• sprinting
• trotting
• jogging
• quickening
• hotfooting (it)
• speeding (up)
• overtaking
• outstripping
• outrunning
• outpacing
• catching up
• fast-forwarding

2

as in postponing

to assign to a later time

our guests delayed their departure until after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• postponing
• deferring
• waiting
• shelving
• holding over
• remitting
• suspending
• putting off
• hesitating
• slowing
• holding off (on)
• putting over
• pausing
• prolonging
• laying over
• retarding
• lengthening
• holding up
• staying
• detaining
• stretching (out)
• extending
• protracting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• doing
• working (on)
• acting
• dealing (with)
• deciding (upon)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of delaying

The Ukrainian leader had accused the Pentagon of delaying the delivery of the missiles that other countries have purchased for Ukraine. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026

Opaque foam boards covered the windows, blocking sightlines and delaying evacuation. — Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Visibility gaps can arise across business functions, and can arise when customer operations cannot see what is holding up a launch and delaying new revenue. — Rohan Joshi, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Opaque foam boards that covered the apartments’ windows blocked residents’ views, delaying evacuation. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

The process may require delaying treatment, which carries risks. — Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 29 Oct. 2026

On Tuesday, QatarEnergy further extended a force majeure clause with Italy’s utility company Edison, delaying delivery of LNG cargoes to the company until the end of December. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

The significance of the phase 3 data extends beyond delaying a recurrence, doctors said. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

According to the county staff report, delaying repairs for a formal bidding process could increase the risk of additional sinkholes, ground collapse and property damage. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026