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to delay

to delay

562 1.4
To make something happen later than planned
  • verb
  • /dɪˈleɪ/
translation icon : retrasar
  • The storm will delay the flight by at least two hours.
  • delay surgery
  • delay the onset
  • delayed response

So timing matters and delaying is almost always wrong.

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Examples

  • But the selling of the house was delayed by a terrible flood.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • But is that a reason to delay rate cuts or not?

  • There really is nothing you can eat to delay that process.

  • The lawyer meant well: "I'll do us a favor and try to delay until after Christmas, O.K.?"

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The net effect upon the Allies, meanwhile, was to delay their final victory in Europe by six weeks.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Their express mission, of course, was to delay the Americans as long as possible and then to die.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • - Yes, I'm afraid our journey was somewhat delayed.

  • So timing matters and delaying is almost always wrong.

  • When you delay feedback, you delay the value you're placing on it.

  • Our flight was delayed.

Synonyms

to wait
vsto delay
1.0

To stay in one place or delay action until something happens

also applies to causing things to happen later, not only staying in place
to catch
vsto delay
374 4.8

To delay someone or make them late

also includes planned postponement and slowing without direct hindrance
to postpone
vsto delay
234 3.4

To delay something until a later time because of a problem

is a broader term including both postponing and general slowing of events
to stall
vsto delay
166 4.3

To delay doing something on purpose to get more time

is broader, including unplanned slowing or later scheduling
to put off
vsto delay
113 2.9

Delay something until a later time

can also mean simply slowing something or making it happen later
to check
vsto delay
104 3.7

Stop something from growing or spreading

is the general idea of making things happen later, not only restricting progress
to hold up
vsto delay
90 2.8

To cause a delay in plans or progress

is wider, including intentional and unintentional actions that make timing later
to wait on
vsto delay
  • US
83 3.9

To delay doing something until someone answers or a situation changes

includes waiting for events but also covers active slowing or rescheduling
to hold off
vsto delay
78 3.8

To wait before doing something

includes that choice but can also refer to external slowing causes
to detain
vsto delay
45 4.4

To delay someone or something so they are late

is broader, covering both holding back people and delaying events or plans
to hold off on
vsto delay
37 4.2

To wait before doing something

is broader, also including causing things to happen later unintentionally
to procrastinate
vsto delay
26 6.5

To delay doing something you should do because you avoid it

covers any delay, whether avoidant habit or external cause
to retard
vsto delay
26 8.4

To make something happen more slowly

is a broader concept that includes slowing as well as rescheduling events
to buy time
vsto delay
23 4.1

To delay something on purpose to get more time to prepare

is more general, applying to any cause that makes timing later
to hold back
vsto delay
16 3.5

Wait before doing something because you feel unsure

also includes active causes that make events happen later than planned
to defer
vsto delay
  • Formal
15 5.5

To delay something until a later time

covers both agreed postponement and general slowing without specific arrangement
to table
vsto delay
  • Formal
13 7.3

To delay discussion or a decision about something until later

is the general term for making something happen later, not only discussions
to stall for time
vsto delay
  • Informal
6 4.8

To delay doing something to get more time

can be deliberate but also covers simple rescheduling or unplanned slowing
to gain time
vsto delay
1 6.1

Delay something on purpose to have more time before a decision

may be intentional or result from circumstances causing later occurrence

Antonyms

403 1.0

To make a person or thing move quickly

to accelerate
  • Specialized
331 3.7

To move faster or make something happen faster

to expedite
  • Formal
45 6.5

To make something happen faster and easier

Compounds

A time when cars and other vehicles move slowly and sometimes stop because of heavy traffic or an accident

delay line
  • Specialized
6.7

An electronic circuit that makes a signal arrive later by a certain amount of time

6.5

A device that delays electrical signals by letting electromagnetic waves travel along it

8.8

A device that delays electrical signals by turning them into sound waves that travel and become electrical signals again

A device that measures the time difference between two events very precisely

6.5

A device that measures the time between two events

traffic delay
  • Specialized
3.5

A time when data takes longer to travel across a computer network, causing lag

sonic delay line
  • Specialized
9.6

A device that delays a signal using the time sound takes to travel

How Late

to halt
206 2.4
to suspend
141 3.9
to postpone
234 3.4
to delay
562 1.4
to stall
166 4.3
to slow
957 1.0

Surface Forms

delay infinitive
delayed past
delayed past participle
delaying present participle
delays third person singular

Etymology

Delay comes from the old French delayer and Latin dilatare, which mean 'put off' or 'make longer', so to delay something is to make it happen later or to slow it down.