delay Meaning & Definition
What Does Delay Mean?
Delay is used as a noun meaning A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity. It is also used to mean An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay. As a verb, it means To put off until a later time; to defer. To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder. As a verb, it means To dilute, temper.
Delay in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //dɪˈleɪ// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | hold, stay and detain |
| Antonyms | rush and hurry |
| Plural | delays |
| Verb forms | delays, delaying, delayed |
Delay Definition (Noun)
- A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
the delay before the echo of a sound
- An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
- Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”).
- An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.
Delay as a Verb
- To put off until a later time; to defer.
To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
- To put off until a later time; to defer.
- To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
- To wait, hesitate, tarry.
Don't delay; this special offer ends at midnight!
- To allay; to temper.
Verb
- To dilute, temper.
- To assuage, quench, allay.
Verb
- To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time.
The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
Synonyms of Delay
Antonyms of Delay
Delay in a Sentence
the delay before the echo of a sound
Two twenty minutes' delays.
The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
Don't delay; this special offer ends at midnight!
Word Forms & Grammar
delay (countable and uncountable, plural delays)
delay (third-person singular simple present delays, present participle delaying, simple past and past participle delayed)
Words That Rhyme With Delay
Origin of Delay
Origin 1: From Middle English delaien, borrowed from Anglo-Norman delaier, Old French deslaier, from des- + Old French laier (“to leave”), a conflation of Old Frankish *lattjan ("to delay, hinder"; from Proto-Germanic *latjaną (“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to leave, leave behind”)), and Old Frankish *laibijan ("to leave"; from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to remain, continue”)). Doublet of dally.
Origin 2: Akin to Old English latian (“to delay, hesitate”), Old English latu (“a delay, a hindrance”), Old English lǣfan (“to leave”). More at let (to hinder), late, leave.
Origin 3: From Middle English delaien, from Old French delaiier, a variant of delaissier.
Pronouncing Delay
Delay is pronounced //dɪˈleɪ// and has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Delay
Is delay a noun or a verb?
Delay is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for delay?
Words with a similar meaning to delay include hold, stay and detain. See the full list of delay synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of delay?
The plural of delay is delays.
What is the past tense of delay?
The past tense of delay is delayed. The present participle is delaying.