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
George Avalos, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
Police said to expect delays in the area and that all traffic eastbound is being detoured onto exit 40.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026
Before last’s year’s special election, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber issued a similar warning about the delays.
—Vanessa Martínez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
This is one of the missions originally awarded to United Launch Alliance under the NSSL Phase 2 contracts, but shifted to SpaceX after delays in ULA’s Vulcan certification.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The United Nations says this is the most significant supply chain disruption since COVID, with up to a 20% cost increase on shipments and delays as goods are rerouted.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The national Bureau of Labor Statistics is catching up on report delays stemming from the federal shutdown last fall.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
Despite delays and concerns about the readiness of a new commercial station when NASA retires the ISS, the White House requested only a small increase in funding for this program in 2027.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The waiver process has caused construction delays and hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra costs as the country faces an affordable housing crisis.
—Charlotte Kramon, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
But having firefighters wait before starting preparations also delays when they can be dispatched to emergencies, which has lengthened response times — and has likely cost many lives across the city, the 60-page audit says.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
With annuals like snapdragons, removing flower stalks delays the formation of seed production and the plants send out more shoots.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 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.
—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
Noun
Caltrans advised drivers to use the prior exit to reach their destinations and avoid delays.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
Police said to expect delays in the area and that all traffic eastbound is being detoured onto exit 40.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026
Before last’s year’s special election, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber issued a similar warning about the delays.
—Vanessa Martínez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
This is one of the missions originally awarded to United Launch Alliance under the NSSL Phase 2 contracts, but shifted to SpaceX after delays in ULA’s Vulcan certification.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The United Nations says this is the most significant supply chain disruption since COVID, with up to a 20% cost increase on shipments and delays as goods are rerouted.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The national Bureau of Labor Statistics is catching up on report delays stemming from the federal shutdown last fall.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
Despite delays and concerns about the readiness of a new commercial station when NASA retires the ISS, the White House requested only a small increase in funding for this program in 2027.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The waiver process has caused construction delays and hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra costs as the country faces an affordable housing crisis.
—Charlotte Kramon, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
That delays emptying of the stomach.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
But having firefighters wait before starting preparations also delays when they can be dispatched to emergencies, which has lengthened response times — and has likely cost many lives across the city, the 60-page audit says.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
With annuals like snapdragons, removing flower stalks delays the formation of seed production and the plants send out more shoots.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 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.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delays
Noun
-
The dominant chick will tend to eat first while the smaller chick waits or comes up with creative ways to get their food, like walking around or waiting until the bigger chicks go into a food coma.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Every minute an infrastructure project waits — due to red tape, political wrangling, indecision, prolonged negotiations, burdensome rules, lack of funding and too few hands to move it forward — the costs go up, support softens, champions go quiet and good projects die.—
Gia Biagi,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That anticipation for Season 3, premiering Sunday, still lingers for Fletcher, though it’s tempered now by doubt and distance, thanks to a four-year gap between seasons.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The active pattern lingers, with additional chances for showers and storms on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.—
Nelly Carreno,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 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
-
Trump has issued conflicting and confusing statements about possible talks as the war drags, including extending deadlines for a deal, which might lead Iran to discount his dire new threats.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
However, many experts say Dubai’s image as a haven will be in doubt the longer the war drags on.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Postponing elections thus also defers possibilities for political transformation.—
Jasmin Lilian Diab,
The Conversation,
5 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The Shops at Yale recently announced the return of the New Haven food crawls and have added a date in December, according to a statement.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Your 6th House of Health takes focus with the nurturing Moon there, though Luna also pokes expensive Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For example, for business and finance occupations broadly, the theoretical exposure (tasks AI could speed up by more than 50%) is very high, but actual observed usage still lags behind.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
What a relief for theater owners, who are struggling as overall attendance lags 20% behind pre-COVID years.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delays. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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