delay
/dɪˈleɪ/
Reviewed on
Also a noun
Meaning
To make someone or something late or cause an event to happen later than planned.
Heavy snow delayed our morning flight by more than three hours.
Why was the project delayed until next quarter?
To postpone doing something until a later time.
She decided to delay her decision until she spoke with her attorney.
Do not delay paying these utility bills, or you will incur a fee.
How it's used
This means “cause someone or something to be late”
- delay the departure
“delay it.”
Severe weather will delay the departure tonight.
Collocations
- delay a flight
- delay a decision
- delay the process
Synonyms
- postpone
- hold up
- defer
- stall
Antonyms
- expedite
- hasten
Meaning
A period of time by which something is late or postponed.
Commuters experienced a thirty-minute delay on the subway due to track maintenance.
Were there any unexpected delays during the product launch?
Collocations
- flight delay
- significant delay
- unnecessary delay
- cause a delay
- without delay
Synonyms
- setback