as in waits
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 lingers
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 postpones
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of delays
Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Bieber himself was aware of the anxiety over the delays and posted a couple messages on his Instagram that there seemed to be a technical delay of some sort.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
But recent polling shows that despite controversy, delays and cost overruns in the project that won 53% of votes in 2008, the bullet train remains a popular initiative.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Without them, passengers left stranded by flight delays and cancellations will once again have to negotiate with customer service agents—or pull out their credit cards.
—AFAR Media, 5 Sep. 2025
Ars also encountered some significant delays and/or outright errors when downloading other games and updates and syncing cloud saves on Steam during this morning's server problems.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
Medicare and Medicare benefits also continue, but some delays could be seen due to a government shutdown.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Further delays and a change in showrunners led to CBS moving the show to midseason.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
The Cook County property tax system’s transition from a 50-year-old information technology system has had its share of missteps and delays due to its vendor, Tyler Technologies.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Others say that approach risks keeping critical documents under wraps and delays a fuller accounting.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Numerous studies have found that student debt delays wealth-building milestones, including homeownership, for years.
—Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
To accommodate the high number of calls, Fagan said the district started using ambulances from neighboring districts, which delays response times.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
The roughly 8,000 residents in this rural area, known for poor cell coverage, are forced to dial a 10-digit backup number, which further delays response times.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Nissan delays production of three new electric SUVs at its Mississippi plant until 2028, a three-year postponement.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Flora and fauna abound and interacting with all of it, there’s Irakli, the type of guy who keeps kibble in the car to feed passing mutts, and who delays his departure from one village to say goodbye to a donkey.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 Aug. 2025
Ford delays the launch of its next-generation electric F-150 pickup and E-Transit van to 2028.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Noun
The Cowboys are no strangers to early-season weather delays in Pennsylvania.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Bieber himself was aware of the anxiety over the delays and posted a couple messages on his Instagram that there seemed to be a technical delay of some sort.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
But recent polling shows that despite controversy, delays and cost overruns in the project that won 53% of votes in 2008, the bullet train remains a popular initiative.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Without them, passengers left stranded by flight delays and cancellations will once again have to negotiate with customer service agents—or pull out their credit cards.
—AFAR Media, 5 Sep. 2025
Ars also encountered some significant delays and/or outright errors when downloading other games and updates and syncing cloud saves on Steam during this morning's server problems.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
Medicare and Medicare benefits also continue, but some delays could be seen due to a government shutdown.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Further delays and a change in showrunners led to CBS moving the show to midseason.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
The Cook County property tax system’s transition from a 50-year-old information technology system has had its share of missteps and delays due to its vendor, Tyler Technologies.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
John Malkovich shows up for a tangent that is meant to be expositional, but really only needlessly delays what’s coming.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Others say that approach risks keeping critical documents under wraps and delays a fuller accounting.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Numerous studies have found that student debt delays wealth-building milestones, including homeownership, for years.
—Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
To accommodate the high number of calls, Fagan said the district started using ambulances from neighboring districts, which delays response times.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
The roughly 8,000 residents in this rural area, known for poor cell coverage, are forced to dial a 10-digit backup number, which further delays response times.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Nissan delays production of three new electric SUVs at its Mississippi plant until 2028, a three-year postponement.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Flora and fauna abound and interacting with all of it, there’s Irakli, the type of guy who keeps kibble in the car to feed passing mutts, and who delays his departure from one village to say goodbye to a donkey.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 Aug. 2025
Ford delays the launch of its next-generation electric F-150 pickup and E-Transit van to 2028.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delays
Noun
-
The bus service’s long waits also caused crowding and loitering in the area, spokeswoman Pauline Haberman said at the time.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
-
These fictional AIs tapped into our deepest worries about healthcare—long waits at the doctor's office, confusing medical information and the wish for constant health guidance.—
Sanath Chilakala,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Blur left audiences stunned and speechless, a hybrid of theater and XR that lingers as memory more than story.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The tension lingers throughout the meal, leaving the family divided.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The panel’s decision postpones the effective dates of TPS terminations directed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the footage, the dog hilariously crawls under the blanket, which had slipped down the side of his crate, and ends up pulling it completely off.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Dead Bug Ab-cross crawls support overall ab strength.—
Health Editorial Team,
Health,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The longer an organization defers security measures, the greater the likelihood that cyber threats will outpace its ability to respond effectively.—
Francis Dinha,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
The strategy seeds ETFs before launch, and the original investor defers capital gains until selling their shares.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The North Carolina General Assembly returned Tuesday for the first time since last month, as a budget stalemate between the House and Senate drags on.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Aug. 2025
-
But as the contest drags on, his resolve starts to crumble.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The brand’s giant green owl mascot dances badly, makes obscure pop culture references and pokes fun at the company’s push notifications.—
Leeron Walter,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Like his contemporaries, Meyers often pokes fun at the ongoing actions of the president and his administration on Late Night.—
Emlyn Travis Updated,
EW.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In several major metropolitan areas, homeownership lags far behind the national rate.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The technology exists while implementation lags.—
Douglas B. Laney,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Delays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delays. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share