as in wait
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there was a delay for our boarding while the airplane unloaded incoming passengers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to linger
to move or act slowly
she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to postpone
to assign to a later time
our guests delayed their departure until after dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of delay
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
These problems include delays in construction and cost overruns, which has put a strain on the financing of the project.
—Phillip Molnar, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2025
Another feature of Apple’s AI rollout might be delayed, but investors shouldn’t be concerned.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delay
Noun
The crash caused heavy traffic delays in the northbound lanes of the turnpike through the morning.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
These problems include delays in construction and cost overruns, which has put a strain on the financing of the project.
—Phillip Molnar, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
Due to internal miscommunication and misunderstandings, family communication was delayed.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2025
Another feature of Apple’s AI rollout might be delayed, but investors shouldn’t be concerned.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delay
Noun
-
Medical wait times were not factored into my limited window.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
5 Mar. 2025
-
The new approval process is creating lengthy wait times for agencies to onboard new hires, causing fears that those employees will go unpaid, their work will go undone, and that their personal information might be compromised.—
Quil Lawrence,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, healthcare costs are climbing, inflation lingers above pre-pandemic levels, and despite some dips, over longer periods of time, life expectancy continues to rise.—
Mike Vietri,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Conclave’s journey mirrored the plot of the film: The papal drama lingered quietly in the background as other contenders got tarred by one scandal or another, then came on late by winning at BAFTA and SAG.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The concert was previously postponed in October when the singer was diagnosed with bronchitis and laryngitis.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
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Fieldwork was regularly being reduced in scope or postponed, sometimes for years.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But the 2013 peace process soon collapsed as tensions reignited, dragging Turkey and the PKK back into a bloody war and ending a two-year ceasefire.—
Eyad Kourdi,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
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The most illuminated of them, hatless and dragging, is followed by a marginally more active figure, the only one to acknowledge the viewer’s presence.—
Sarah C. Schaefer,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Criticism of the Dodgers deferring money, or delaying paying players much of their salary until after their contract with the team ends, first began in 2023.—
Russell Leung,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2025
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The designer deferred an interview request until a later date.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Feb. 2025
-
As Hill sprinted from the trailing vehicle, the president was struck by a second and third shot as Hill crawled onto the back of the Kennedys' accelerating car.—
Bill Trott,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Read more Adrien Brody gives powerful Oscar speech after Best Actor win The worst Super Bowl ads of 2025 Hulu's Oscars gaffe, email error sparks anger During the ceremony, Oscars host Conan O'Brien poked fun at the Dune star's outfit color choice.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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Offerman also poked fun at himself with quips about his monotone voice and his appearance.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Shelter inflation, which is an amorphous and lagging measure of the average cost of housing in the US, rose to 4.4% year-over-year in January, outpacing overall inflation of 3%.—
Alicia Wallace and Matt Stiles,
CNN,
4 Mar. 2025
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Regulations always lag behind the emergence of new technology, but legislators around the world are quickly catching up to the challenge of AI.—
Matt Kunkel,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Delay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delay. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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