Delay

/dɪˈleɪ̯/ · noun

Meaning

A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity..

Definitions by Sense

1. A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
2. (music) An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
3. (programming, Clojure) Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”).
4. (chess) An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.
5. To put off until a later time; to defer.
6. To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
7. (intransitive) To wait, hesitate, tarry.
8. (transitive, obsolete) To allay; to temper.

Example Sentences

the delay before the echo of a sound

Two twenty minutes' delays.

Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat.

The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day.

In this article I'm thinking about the big delays, over two hours. While rare, they make the news and help to deter people from future rail travel, both travellers and news viewers.

The 8-bit sound quality of many early delays did indeed leave a lot to be desired (compare this to the 16-bit digital technology of CDs)

My lord delayeth his coming.

The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.

Synonyms for delay

Antonyms for delay

Related Words

Word Forms

• delays
• delaying
• delayed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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