to temporize

Examples

• All

• "Let me think about it," he temporized.

  Fiction book (1999)

• "I'll tell you what," she temporized.

  Fiction book (1992)

• "I wanted to make it up to you," she temporized.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "We must have at least one to make it back to the forests," he temporized.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Previously, the music companies had been like publishers, temporizing.

  Academic text (2000)

• "But the Tugars are still four winters away," Ivor replied, trying to temporize.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "Well, almost," I temporized.

  Fiction book (1991)

• "Nothing really important," he temporized, licking a crumb off his lip.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Five years ago, the Eighth Party Congress's disagreements resulted in temporizing on most issues.

  Academic text (2000)

• Consequently, publishers temporized.

  Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

H

to hold off

vsto temporize

78 3.8

To wait before doing something

is close but may be temporary without intent to avoid commitment

H

to hold off on

vsto temporize

37 4.2

To wait before doing something

can be similar but often lacks the aim of avoiding conflict

S

to sit on

vsto temporize

34 4.2

Delay making a decision about something while thinking about it

often delays to avoid committing rather than only to think more

P

to procrastinate

vsto temporize

26 6.5

To delay doing something you should do because you avoid it

differs by being an unplanned habit rather than strategic avoidance

B

to buy time

vsto temporize

23 4.1

To delay something on purpose to get more time to prepare

is usually done to avoid committing quickly or to avoid conflict

H

to hold back

vsto temporize

16 3.5

Wait before doing something because you feel unsure

is more about simple hesitation than strategic avoidance of commitment

S

to stall for time

vsto temporize

• Informal

6 4.8

To delay doing something to get more time

often aims to avoid commitment or conflict rather than just postpone

P

to play for time

vsto temporize

• Informal

4 5.0

To delay on purpose to get more time before deciding or acting

does the same but also to avoid commitment or conflict

T

to take one's sweet time

vsto temporize

• Informal

3 7.5

Do something slowly on purpose and without hurry

implies leisurely slowness not strategic delay to avoid commitment

G

to gain time

vsto temporize

1 6.1

Delay something on purpose to have more time before a decision

serves the same purpose but emphasizes avoiding commitment or conflict

D

to dillydally

vsto temporize

• Informal

1 8.3

To waste time by being slow or unsure about what to do

is careless or idle delay rather than deliberate avoidance of commitment

S

to sit on a decision

vsto temporize

4.2

Delay making a decision by waiting instead of choosing

is used to avoid committing rather than to gain preparation time

D

to drag one's feet

vsto temporize

• Informal

5.5

To be slow on purpose because you do not want to do something

shares reluctance but not necessarily designed to avoid commitment

D

to drag one's heels

vsto temporize

• Informal

7.5

To delay doing something because you do not want to do it

is similar in slowness but less about buying time or avoiding conflict

B

to bide one's time

vsto temporize

• Informal

7.5

Wait for a good chance before acting

differs by waiting for a chance rather than delaying to avoid commitment

Antonyms

A

to act

∞ 1.0

Take action to deal with a problem or situation

D

to decide

113 1.0

To cause someone to make a choice

How Delaying

to stonewall

• Literature

42 7.8

to stall

166 4.3

to temporize

• Formal

2 9.3

to hesitate

318 2.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology