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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of delay
Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
International shipping is gradually stabilizing, but delays often stem from inefficiencies within e-commerce retailers' systems.
—Dennis Mitzner, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Still, some who have been focused on TCE were surprised that the Trump administration was delaying and reconsidering the recent ban.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delay
Noun
The second delay came after they were briefly enacted and then delayed — but only in part.
—Verb
The plane landed in the City by the Bay at 5:05 p.m.
The plane was delayed more than 3 hours before taking off.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for delay
Noun
-
But the on-again, off-again nature of the process has resulted in a bewildered industry that has adopted a wait and see approach to investment decisions and supply chain alterations.—
-
After four consecutive quarters of declining sales and growing frustration over long wait times, the company is focusing on speed.—
Verb
-
After her mother's stroke, Keys said self-care meant taking her blood pressure medication, drinking water and lingering for a moment at the mailbox to take in the sunshine and feel the wind on her face.—
-
The cool weather is expected to linger in the metro during the first part of next week.—
Verb
-
Schumer, who leads the Democrats in the Senate minority, postponed his book tour after facing outrage from the Democratic base for supporting a Republican spending bill.—
-
But Libby's amendments were not even considered, and Democrats moved to have the amendments indefinitely postponed.—
Verb
-
The man was convicted of dragging the girl into an alley on Glenwood Road near E. 38th St. in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and attacking her, cops said.—
-
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and dragging hundreds more back to Gaza as hostages.—
Verb
-
Those duties will take effect next week unless Trump opts again to defer them or reaches a deal with the other countries’ heads of state.—
-
To oust her, the government needs to reconvene after deferring the matter to the same committee that appointed her and hearing its recommendation.—
Verb
-
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
-
Senators from both sides of the aisle are reigniting efforts to crawl back technology companies’ legal immunities with hopes bipartisan support in Congress could push the bill across the finish line this session and gain the backing of President Trump.—
Verb
-
Mary Fowler momentarily looks down and holds up a very neat yellow square of knitting to the camera, two wooden needles poking out either side.—
-
During the incident, Konig also allegedly attempted to poke the woman with two syringes, Hawaii News Now reported, citing law enforcement sources.—
Verb
-
Who’s lagging behind the competition and limping into the playoffs?—
-
The case for alternative technologies is gaining ground as Chinese competition accelerates in a market where European EVs lag and overall sales are expected to stagnate in 2025.—
Cite this Entry
“Delay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delay. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share