Meaning & Definition of word "Delay"
to
Delay
/dɪˈleɪ/
noun:
- 1. The act of making something late or postponing it.
- Example: There was a significant delay in the delivery of the goods.
- 2. A period of time by which something is late.
- Example: The flight experienced a two-hour delay.
- 3. A situation in which something is stopped or slowed down.
- Example: The delay in traffic caused us to arrive late to the concert.
verb:
- 1. To make someone or something late or to postpone an action.
- Example: The meeting was delayed due to a scheduling conflict.
- 2. To put off or defer something to a later time.
- Example: We decided to delay the release of the project until next month.
- 3. To cause to be slow or to slow down.
- Example: The construction work was delayed by bad weather.
Etymology
Middle English 'delaien', from Old French 'delayer', from de- 'of' + 'layer' (to put).
Common Phrases and Expressions
in the meantime:
during the time before something happens or before a specified period ends.
delayed gratification:
the ability to resist the temptation for an immediate reward and wait for a later reward.
delayed reaction:
a response that occurs after a time lapse.
Related Words
postponement:
the action of delaying something.
tardy:
occurring after the expected or usual time.
reschedule:
to change the time of a planned event to a later time.
Slang Meanings of delay
Meaning: to ghost
Example Sentence: He totally delayed on our plans and didn’t show up.
Meaning: to bail
Example Sentence: She delayed on our date and canceled last minute.