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
Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
For public transit, confirm that service runs frequently and late enough to accommodate potential delays.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
Motorists should anticipate delays, plan ahead and choose alternate routes.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
Drivers were cautioned about significant delays in the area, especially approaching Slaughter Lane, as vehicles merge onto the service road and try to re-enter the interstate farther north.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
The crisis has left 147 container ships sheltering in the Persian Gulf, according to freight analytics firm Xeneta, prompting delays, port congestion, and freight rate increases that are rippling across global markets.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Organizers warn the public that streets near the marathon course will experience traffic delays.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Another recent example of this is State Question 832, a minimum wage initiative that has faced delays in reaching voters.
—Jeff Elkins, Oklahoman, 6 Mar. 2026
Be punctual for shore excursions and activities to avoid delays or missing out without a refund.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Lauran Neergaard, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Asian stocks tanked as the war in Iran entered its fifth day, with investors dumping crowded positions in chipmakers on worries that the conflict will drive an oil shock that raises inflation and delays interest rate cuts.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
The investment committee approved the change on Tuesday, which also delays Maersk’s job development investment grant.
—Brian Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
What happens if the city delays?
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Recognizing delays inherent to deployment of new, full-scale reactors, the industry and government have focused in recent years on more efficient designs, including a small modular reactor proposed by the nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority.
—Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
This mistake not only holds up your travel plans, but also delays passengers behind you as TSA officers search through your carry-on.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
Under state law, there is a 14-day pre-eviction notice required for nonpayment of rent, which delays the impact.
—Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
The insurer has come under heavy criticism from fire victims over its handling of claims, including complaints of low payout offers, denials for toxin testing and delays in payments for living expenses.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
For public transit, confirm that service runs frequently and late enough to accommodate potential delays.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
Motorists should anticipate delays, plan ahead and choose alternate routes.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
Drivers were cautioned about significant delays in the area, especially approaching Slaughter Lane, as vehicles merge onto the service road and try to re-enter the interstate farther north.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
The crisis has left 147 container ships sheltering in the Persian Gulf, according to freight analytics firm Xeneta, prompting delays, port congestion, and freight rate increases that are rippling across global markets.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Organizers warn the public that streets near the marathon course will experience traffic delays.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Another recent example of this is State Question 832, a minimum wage initiative that has faced delays in reaching voters.
—Jeff Elkins, Oklahoman, 6 Mar. 2026
Be punctual for shore excursions and activities to avoid delays or missing out without a refund.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.
—Lauran Neergaard, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Asian stocks tanked as the war in Iran entered its fifth day, with investors dumping crowded positions in chipmakers on worries that the conflict will drive an oil shock that raises inflation and delays interest rate cuts.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
The investment committee approved the change on Tuesday, which also delays Maersk’s job development investment grant.
—Brian Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
What happens if the city delays?
—Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Recognizing delays inherent to deployment of new, full-scale reactors, the industry and government have focused in recent years on more efficient designs, including a small modular reactor proposed by the nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority.
—Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
This mistake not only holds up your travel plans, but also delays passengers behind you as TSA officers search through your carry-on.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
Under state law, there is a 14-day pre-eviction notice required for nonpayment of rent, which delays the impact.
—Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delays
Noun
-
About a third of the Republican polling places have over 30-minute waits.—
Rachel Royster
Updated March 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Local spots right near the venue might have shorter waits and easier parking than driving to Wynwood or Miami Beach before the game starts.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This is where Vietnam Syndrome still lingers — not as a slogan, but as a mindset.—
Ken Toltz,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Inflation lingers as gas prices fall While some measures of inflation have cooled in recent months, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure has been stuck at about 3% for roughly a year.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, the sentencing for the teenager falls under a process known as Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile, which postpones an adult sentence until his 21st birthday.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Discord postpones age verification Discord, the popular platform for gamers to communicate online, is postponing its controversial age verification policy after receiving swift backlash from users with concerns about their privacy.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The attacks on Iran have already sent US gasoline prices higher, and will likely continue to climb as the war drags on.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
That's straining operating costs and ticket prices, both of which could become more expensive if airlines have to pay more for fuel the longer the war drags on.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Depending on how long the renter defers part of the payment, Livble’s fees can translate into effective annual percentage rates of roughly 104% to 139%.—
Ken Sweet,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
One amendment to the bill adding new zoning categories defers its effective date to April 5, which Johnston said was meant to give the Planning Department enough time to put together and disseminate the map.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
As the Bay Area slowly — some might say glacially — crawls into spring, there’s nothing better than sipping a hot cup of tea or coffee to warm yourself up.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
As with aftermarket switchable sway bar systems, drivers can lock the sway bars in place for better handling and stability at speed and unlock them completely for maximum articulation during bumpy rock crawls.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Williams pokes a single into the right field gap for an RBI.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
One TikTok video with over 949,000 likes pokes fun at Kempczinski's review by using similar wording to judge other McDonald's items.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Texas also consistently lags behind in the national share of younger workers with college degrees.—
Wilborn P. Nobles III,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
While his run defense still lags well behind his pass-rushing talent, the difference Chaisson can make on third downs and other high-leverage situations should earn him a nice payday.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delays. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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