Definition of Delay
The word delay refers to the act of postponing, slowing down, or hindering an event, action, or process. It can be used as both a noun and a verb.
- As a noun: A period of time during which something is postponed or slowed down.
- As a verb: To make something happen later than expected or slow down its progress.
Synonyms for Delay
Synonyms for delay vary based on strength and context. Below are categorized lists of synonyms:
Strongest Matches (Exact Synonyms)
- Postponement – The act of rescheduling an event to a later time.
- Deferment – A formal or deliberate postponement.
- Interruption – A break or pause in progress.
- Procrastination – The action of delaying or postponing something, often due to reluctance.
- Hindrance – Something that causes a delay or obstruction.
- Hold-up – A stoppage or obstruction that causes a delay.
Strong Matches (Similar Meaning)
- Rescheduling – Changing a set time to a later date.
- Pausing – Temporarily stopping an activity.
- Adjournment – Temporarily stopping a meeting or legal proceeding.
- Stall – Intentionally delaying progress.
- Impeding – Slowing down progress by obstruction.
Weak Matches (Loosely Related Words)
- Lateness – Being late.
- Retention – Holding something back, causing a delay.
- Slackening – Reducing speed or intensity.
- Deceleration – Slowing down the speed of movement or action.
Example Sentences with “Delay”
Here are a few ways the word delay is commonly used in sentences:
- As a noun:
- The flight experienced a three-hour delay due to bad weather.
- The delay in response caused frustration among customers.
- His delay in making a decision cost the company a major deal.
- As a verb:
- The manager decided to delay the project deadline by a week.
- We should not delay the shipment any further.
- The traffic jam delayed our arrival at the event.
Contextual Usage of “Delay”
The meaning of delay can change slightly based on its context:
- Business & Work: “The project faced a significant delay due to budget constraints.”
- Technology & IT: “The server issues caused a delay in the software update.”
- Transportation: “The train delay frustrated many commuters.”
- Legal & Government: “The court ruling was delayed for further review.”
- Health & Medicine: “A delay in diagnosis can affect treatment outcomes.”
Related Words
Here are some additional terms that relate to delay:
- Halt – A complete stop.
- Suspension – A temporary stopping of activity.
- Detour – A route that causes a delay.
- Latency – A time delay in computing and communications.
- Lag – A noticeable delay in performance.
- Timeout – A brief pause or stop in activity.
Additional Information
- Etymology: The word delay originates from the Old French “delai” (noun) and “delayer” (verb), which means to put off or postpone.
- Common Phrases:
- “Without further delay” – Meaning something should happen immediately.
- “Apologies for the delay” – Often used in customer service situations.
- “To delay the inevitable” – To postpone something that will happen regardless.
Disclaimer
This page is intended for informational purposes only. The synonyms, related words, and contextual uses provided here are meant to enhance understanding and vocabulary usage but may not always be interchangeable in every context. For precise usage, consider consulting a dictionary or thesaurus.
