Delay Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Published on August 4, 2025
Delay means to postpone or make something happen later than planned. e.g., The snowstorm caused a delay in the flight schedule.
Table of Contents
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Delay Definitions
To put off to a later time; procrastinate.
He decided to delay his homework to play video games.
To cause to be slower or take more time; hinder.
Traffic congestion can significantly delay morning commutes.
The act of delaying; putting off.
The delay of the project deadline was inevitable due to unforeseen circumstances.
The time interval between initiating and completing an action or process.
There's usually a slight delay between pressing the camera button and the photo being taken.
A period of time by which something is late or postponed.
There was a two-hour delay on the train due to technical issues.
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To wait or make wait; hold back.
She delayed leaving the house until the rain stopped.
An electronic effect used in music to repeat a sound after a short pause.
The guitarist used a delay pedal to add depth to his solo.
To slow down the progress of; impede.
Bad weather delays the construction work on the new bridge.
A situation in which something does not start or happen when it should.
The game experienced a delay due to a power outage.
To postpone or defer an action.
The meeting was delayed until all members could attend.
To postpone until a later time; defer.
To cause to be later or slower than expected or desired
Heavy traffic delayed us.
To act or move slowly; put off an action or a decision.
The act of delaying; postponement
Responded without delay.
The condition of being delayed; detainment.
The period of time during which one is delayed.
The interval of time between two events.
A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
The delay before the echo of a sound
(music) An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
Synonym of promise
(chess) An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.
(ambitransitive) To put off until a later time; to defer.
To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time.
The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
To allay; to temper.
(obsolete) To dilute, temper.
(obsolete) To assuage, quench, allay.
A putting off or deferring; procrastination; lingering inactivity; stop; detention; hindrance.
Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat.
The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day.
To put off; to defer; to procrastinate; to prolong the time of or before.
My lord delayeth his coming.
To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time; to retard the motion, or time of arrival, of; as, the mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
Thyrsis! whose artful strains have oft delayedThe huddling brook to hear his madrigal.
To allay; to temper.
The watery showers delay the raging wind.
To move slowly; to stop for a time; to linger; to tarry.
There seem to be certain bounds to the quickness and slowness of the succession of those ideas, . . . beyond which they can neither delay nor hasten.
Time during which some action is awaited;
Instant replay caused too long a delay
He ordered a hold in the action
The act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
Cause to be slowed down or delayed;
Traffic was delayed by the bad weather
She delayed the work that she didn't want to perform
Act later than planned, scheduled, or required;
Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered
Stop or halt;
Please stay the bloodshed!
Slow the growth or development of;
The brain damage will retard the child's language development
Delay Snonyms
Hold up
To cause to be late or delayed.
A broken-down truck held up traffic for miles.
Procrastinate
To delay or postpone action; put off doing something.
She procrastinated on her assignment and had to rush it last minute.
Postpone
To put off to a later time.
They had to postpone the wedding due to the pandemic.
Hinder
To make difficult to accomplish; impede.
Lack of funds hindered the progress of the research project.
Lag
To fall behind in movement, progress, or development.
The computer system began to lag due to outdated hardware.
Defer
To put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone.
They deferred the decision until the next board meeting.
Stall
To stop or cause to stop making progress.
Negotiations stalled over disagreements on pricing.
Deter
To discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
Bad weather deterred them from climbing the mountain.
Adjourn
To break off (a meeting or legal case) with the intention of resuming it later.
The judge adjourned the hearing until evidence could be reviewed.
Impede
To slow the movement, progress, or action of (someone or something).
Mud impeded the army's march through the forest.
Delay Example Sentences
He sent an email to explain the delay in submitting his report.
The heavy rain caused a delay in the construction schedule.
She experienced a slight delay in receiving her package due to the holiday rush.
The airline offered compensation for the delay in flight departures.
The technical issue caused a delay in the launch of the new website.
They apologized for the delay in responding to customer inquiries.
They announced a delay in the release date of the new product.
The delay in processing the visa applications frustrated many applicants.
The traffic jam on the highway will delay our arrival.
To avoid delay, please ensure all forms are filled out correctly.
The bad weather could delay our flight back home.
To minimize delay, they hired additional staff.
Parents were notified of the delay in the school bus schedule.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in delay?
The stressed syllable in "delay" is the second one, -lay.
How is delay used in a sentence?
The unforeseen circumstances caused a delay in our project timeline.
Why is it called delay?
"Delay" comes from the Old French "delaier," meaning "to postpone, delay," which is derived from the Latin "dilatare" meaning "to widen, enlarge, extend."
How many syllables are in delay?
Delay has two syllables.
How do we divide delay into syllables?
Delay is divided into syllables as de-lay.
What is the root word of delay?
The root word of "delay" is the Latin "dilatare."
What is the second form of delay?
The second form is "delayed," the simple past tense.
What is another term for delay?
Another term for "delay" is "postpone."
What is the pronunciation of delay?
Delay is pronounced as /dɪˈleɪ/.
What is the verb form of delay?
The verb form is "delay," as in to cause to be later or to postpone.
What is the plural form of delay?
The plural form is "delays."
What is the first form of delay?
The first form is "delay," used as the present tense.
Is delay a collective noun?
No, "delay" is not a collective noun.
Is the word delay imperative?
"Delay" can be used in the imperative mood as a command, e.g., "Delay the meeting."
Is the word “delay” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Delay" can serve as a direct object in sentences like "The storm caused a significant delay."
What part of speech is delay?
"Delay" can be both a verb (to postpone) and a noun (the act of delaying or a period of being delayed).
Is delay an adverb?
No, "delay" is not an adverb.
What is the opposite of delay?
The opposite of "delay" could be "expedite" or "advance."
Is delay a negative or positive word?
"Delay" is typically considered negative, as it implies a hindrance or postponement.
Is delay a vowel or consonant?
The word "delay" starts with a consonant.
Is the delay term a metaphor?
"Delay" can be used metaphorically in various contexts to describe postponed or hindered progress.
Which preposition is used with delay?
Prepositions such as "in," "of," or "by" are commonly used with "delay," depending on the context.
What is the third form of delay?
The third form is also "delayed," used as the past participle.
Is the word delay Gerund?
No, "delay" is not a gerund; "delaying" would be the gerund form.
Which vowel is used before delay?
The choice of vowel (article) before "delay" depends on the sentence; it can be "a delay" or "the delay."
What is the singular form of delay?
The singular form is "delay."
Is delay a noun or adjective?
"Delay" is primarily a noun and a verb, not an adjective.
Is delay an abstract noun?
As a noun, "delay" refers to a concept or condition of being late, which can be considered abstract.
Is delay a countable noun?
Yes, "delay" is a countable noun when referring to specific instances of delay.
Which determiner is used with delay?
Determiners such as "a," "the," or possessives like "my" can be used with "delay" when it functions as a noun.
Which conjunction is used with delay?
Conjunctions such as "and," "but," or "because" can be used in sentences involving "delay."
Which article is used with delay?
The articles "a" or "the" can be used with "delay" depending on whether it is used in a specific or nonspecific sense.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
