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
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Recent Examples of delays
Marco Cummings, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Acquiring the rest of the footage outside of Ice Cube’s scenes also contributed to the delays.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 13 Sep. 2025
Pro-housing advocates often criticize the law, known as CEQA, for causing home-building delays in the state.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Even in areas accustomed to heavier snowfalls, accumulations in this range can result in delays, collisions and road closures if not treated promptly.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Therefore, the resulting stock drops can be viewed as buying opportunities — so long as the delays don't turn into order cancellations.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Possible technical issues got in the way of a launch attempt after back-to-back days of weather delays at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
This holistic process minimizes delays, prevents budget overruns, and produces outcomes that meet aesthetic, regulatory, and performance goals.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The Cowboys are no strangers to early-season weather delays in Pennsylvania.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
Frontier and American Airlines each had nine delays.
—Marco Cummings, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
Acquiring the rest of the footage outside of Ice Cube’s scenes also contributed to the delays.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 13 Sep. 2025
Pro-housing advocates often criticize the law, known as CEQA, for causing home-building delays in the state.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Even in areas accustomed to heavier snowfalls, accumulations in this range can result in delays, collisions and road closures if not treated promptly.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Therefore, the resulting stock drops can be viewed as buying opportunities — so long as the delays don't turn into order cancellations.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Possible technical issues got in the way of a launch attempt after back-to-back days of weather delays at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
This holistic process minimizes delays, prevents budget overruns, and produces outcomes that meet aesthetic, regulatory, and performance goals.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The Cowboys are no strangers to early-season weather delays in Pennsylvania.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
The wait can leave workers wondering what’s fair and what’s legal when an employer delays payment.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delays
Noun
-
One pack moves several miles down the road while the pack behind it sits and waits.—
Denver Nicks,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Finally, a dash of cranberry bitters snaps everything into focus, leaving a tart, ruby-toned finish that lingers just long enough to invite another sip.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Yet Harris lingers near the top of the 2028 Democratic presidential contenders in most polling because the party lacks viable alternatives with comparable name identification.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 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
-
Buffett’s buy-and-hold approach not only compounds wealth but also defers taxes, allowing more capital to keep working year after year.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 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
-
Maybe his rehabilitation drags.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
-
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
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
-
And when infrastructure lags behind the market, decisions follow.—
Ashok Reddy,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
And unlike Android rivals Samsung and Google, which have leaned into artificial intelligence on their smartphone software, Apple Intelligence is expected to take a back seat during Tuesday’s event, even as perceptions continue that the company lags in AI.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Delays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delays. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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