Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense delays, present participle delaying, past tense, past participle delayed
1. verb
If you delay doing something, you do not do it immediately or at the planned or expected time, but you leave it until later.
For sentimental reasons I wanted to delay my departure until June. [VERB noun]
They had delayed having children, for the usual reason, to establish their careers. [VERB noun/-ing]
So don't delay, write in now for your chance of a free gift. [VERB]
cancel
2. verb
To delay someone or something means to make them late or to slow them down.
Can you delay him in some way? [VERB noun]
Various set-backs and problems delayed production. [VERB noun]
The passengers were delayed for an hour. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If you delay, you deliberately take longer than necessary to do something.
If he delayed any longer, the sun would be up. [VERB]
Synonyms: linger, lag, loiter, dawdle More Synonyms of delay
4. variable noun
If there is a delay, something does not happen until later than planned or expected.
They claimed that such a delay wouldn't hurt anyone.
Although the tests have caused some delay, flights should be back to normal thismorning.
5. uncountable noun
Delay is a failure to do something immediately or in the required or usual time.
There is no time left for delay.
We'll send you a quote without delay.
Synonyms: dawdling, lingering, loitering, procrastination More Synonyms of delay
More Synonyms of delay
delay in British English
(dɪˈleɪ)
verb
1. (transitive)
to put off to a later time; defer
2. (transitive)
to slow up, hinder, or cause to be late; detain
3. (intransitive)
to be irresolute or put off doing something; procrastinate
4. (intransitive)
to linger; dawdle
noun
5.
the act or an instance of delaying or being delayed
6.
the interval between one event and another; lull; interlude
Derived forms
delayer (deˈlayer)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French delaier, from des- off + laier, variant of laissier to leave, from Latin laxāre to loosen, from laxus slack, lax1
delay in American English
(diˈleɪ; dɪˈleɪ)
verb transitive
1.
to put off to a future time; postpone
2.
to make late; slow up; detain
verb intransitive
3.
to stop for a while; linger
noun
4.
a delaying or being delayed
5.
the period of time for which something is delayed
Derived forms
delayer (deˈlayer)
noun
Word origin
ME delaien < OFr delaier < de-, intens. + laier, to leave, let, altered (? after conjugation of faire) < laissier < L laxare: see relax
Examples of 'delay' in a sentence
delay
The governor emphasised yesterday that economic pain would be delayed rather than cancelled.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Strikes and failing infrastructure have caused huge delays across the network this year.
The Sun (2016)
Passengers have endured months of cancellations and delays because of staff sickness and strikes.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The rail firm claims a bitter row over driveronly trains is to blame for nine months of delays and cancelled trains.
The Sun (2017)
Rather than delay departure, it is time to make the best of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Since then, the process has been delayed three times.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you suffered a delay this summer and are due compensation, do not give up.
The Sun (2016)
But there is a time delay, like talking on a dodgy video link.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Nearly all said a lack of was a major issue, followed by delays in sending patients home.
The Sun (2016)
Before take-off, the pilot said a technical fault would delay their departure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Computer failures caused delays at airports earlier in the month.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You notice these things on time delay.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There may be a temptation to bolster security by delaying their departure.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Taxpayers have complained of delays when sending the right documents to their accountants.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Postal delays are already hurting small businesses and major companies across the country.
The Sun (2009)
Hundreds of flights will be delayed or cancelled.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
No less shabby is the cynical way the banks used the courts as a delaying tactic.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
What terror would that delay have put the poor old dear through?
The Sun (2013)
Buses and regional train services were halted or suffered long delays across the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The job must be done again and the slip caused a costly delay to the terminal opening.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This time there were delays in getting blood tests.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is possible that peers will be asked to delay their departure.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Any interruption in that process would have delayed innovation and hurt the global economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He said it would put patients at risk and cause operations to be cancelled or delayed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So any delay puts enormous pressure on the fleet.
The Sun (2010)
Do not try to redeem this voucher against any other product because it may cause embarrassment and delay at the checkout.
The Sun (2010)
People spend endless energies delaying failures.
Christianity Today (2000)
All we see are delaying tactics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The time differential of 24 hours is more indicative of cancellation than of delay.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Your story Have you suffered a train delay but found it difficult to claim compensation?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The cheque took 11 days to arrive and the letter blamed human error for the delay in sending a replacement.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There were widespread delays and cancellations at airports and on the trains, while many roads were at a standstill.
The Sun (2013)
But the Government cannot delay acting.
The Sun (2011)
The experience of the moment of presence is indefinitely postponed, infinitely deferred, perpetually delayed.
Boyne, Roy Foucault and Derrida - The Other Side Of Reason (1990)
In other languages
delay
British English: delay /dɪˈleɪ/ NOUN
If there is a delay, something does not happen until later than planned or expected.
This caused delays and disruption to flights.
American English: delay
Arabic: تَأْخِير
Brazilian Portuguese: atraso
Chinese: 拖延
Croatian: odgoda
Czech: zpoždění
Danish: forsinkelse
Dutch: vertraging
European Spanish: retraso
Finnish: viivytys
French: retard
German: Verspätung
Greek: καθυστέρηση
Italian: ritardo
Japanese: 遅れ
Korean: 지연
Norwegian: forsinkelse
Polish: opóźnienie
European Portuguese: atraso
Romanian: întârziere
Russian: задержка
Latin American Spanish: retraso
Swedish: försening
Thai: ความล่าช้า
Turkish: gecikme
Ukrainian: затримка
Vietnamese: sự trì hoãn
British English: delay /dɪˈleɪ/ VERB
If you delay doing something, you do not do it until a later time.
He intends to delay his departure until next Sunday.
American English: delay
Arabic: يَتَأَخَّرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: atrasar
Chinese: 拖延
Croatian: odgoditi
Czech: odkládat na později
Danish: forsinke
Dutch: vertragen
European Spanish: retrasar
Finnish: viivyttää
French: retarder
German: verzögern
Greek: καθυστερώ
Italian: ritardare
Japanese: 遅れる
Korean: 지연하다
Norwegian: forsinke
Polish: opóźnić
European Portuguese: atrasar
Romanian: a amâna
Russian: отложить
Latin American Spanish: retrasar
Swedish: försena
Thai: ล่าช้า
Turkish: gecikmek
Ukrainian: відкладати
Vietnamese: trì hoãn
All related terms of 'delay'
delay line
a device in which a known delay time is introduced in the transmission of a signal. An acoustic delay line delays a sound wave by circulating it through a liquid or solid medium
time delay
a delay that separates the occurrence of two events
delay a flight
A flight is a journey made by flying, usually in an aeroplane .
delay a launch
If a company launches a new product, it makes it available to the public.
delay the announcement
An announcement is a statement made to the public or to the media which gives information about something that has happened or that will happen.
delayed action
A delayed action mechanism causes a delay on the device it is fitted to, so that it does not work as soon as you switch it on or operate it.
Chinese translation of 'delay'
delay
(dɪˈleɪ)
vt
(= postpone)[decision, ceremony]推迟(遲) (tuīchí)
(= make late)[person]耽搁(擱) (dānge)
[plane, train]延误(誤) (yánwù)
vi
耽搁(擱) (dānge)
n(c/u)
延误(誤) (yánwù) (个(個), gè)
to be delayed[person, flight, departure]被耽搁(擱)了 (bèi dānge le)
without delay立即 (lìjì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to put (something) off to a later time
I delayed my departure until she could join me.
Synonyms
put off
suspend
The union suspended strike action this week.
postpone
He decided to postpone the expedition.
stall
Tomas had spent all week stalling over a decision.
shelve
Sadly, the project has now been shelved.
prolong
He said foreign military aid was prolonging the war.
defer
Customers often defer payment for as long as possible.
hold over
temporize
`Not exactly, sir,' he temporized.
put on the back burner (informal)
protract
take a rain check on (US, Canadian, informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to slow up or cause to be late
The passengers were delayed by bad weather.
Synonyms
hold up
detain
We won't detain you any further.
hold back
stop
I think she really would have liked to stop everything right there.
arrest
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
halt
Striking workers halted production at the auto plant yesterday.
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
obstruct
The authorities are obstructing the investigation.
retard
Continuing violence will retard negotiations.
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
bog down
set back
slow up
Opposites
speed (up)
,
advance
,
promote
,
urge
,
rush
,
hurry
,
accelerate
,
dispatch
,
facilitate
,
hasten
, precipitate,
quicken
,
fast-track
,
expedite
3 (verb)
Definition
to deliberately take longer than necessary to do something
If he delayed any longer, the sun would be up.
Synonyms
linger
Customers are welcome to linger over coffee until midnight.
lag
The boys crept forward, Roger lagging a little.
loiter
unemployed young men loitering at the entrance to the factory.
dawdle
They dawdled arm in arm past the shopfronts.
tarry
Two old boys tarried on the street corner discussing cattle.
dilly-dally (informal)
drag your feet or heels (informal)
1 (noun)
Definition
a period of inactivity or waiting before something happens or continues
Air restrictions might mean delays for Easter holidaymakers.
Synonyms
hold-up
They arrived late due to a motorway hold-up.
wait
After a long wait, someone finally picked up the phone.
check
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.
setback
He has suffered a serious setback in his political career.
interruption
The sudden interruption stopped her in mid-flow.
obstruction
Americans viewed the army as an obstruction to legitimate economic development.
stoppage
The small traffic disturbance will soon grow into a complete stoppage.
impediment
There is no legal impediment to the marriage.
hindrance
Higher rates have been a hindrance to economic recovery.
2 (noun)
We'll send you a quote without delay.
Synonyms
dawdling
lingering
loitering
procrastination
He hates delay and procrastination.
tarrying
dilly-dallying (informal)
3 (noun)
Definition
the act of delaying
A delay of the federal trial was granted.
Synonyms
postponement
The postponement was due to a dispute over where the talks should be held.
suspension
the suspension of flights between London and Manchester
putting off
adjournment
The court ordered a four-month adjournment.
stay
The court dismissed defence appeals for a permanent stay of execution.
deferment
the deferment of tax payments
deferral
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adjournment
The court ordered a four-month adjournment.
Synonyms
postponement,
delay,
suspension,
putting off,
stay,
recess,
interruption,
deferment,
deferral,
discontinuation,
prorogation
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to slow or stop the development of
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
Synonyms
stop,
end,
hold,
limit,
check,
block,
slow,
delay,
halt,
stall,
stay,
interrupt,
suppress,
restrain,
hamper,
inhibit,
hinder,
obstruct,
retard,
impede
in the sense of check
Definition
a means to ensure against fraud or error
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.