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
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Recent Examples of delay
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
During the 53-minute delay, the large scoreboard in center field showed the end of Argentina’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 July 2026
The mass demonstrations delayed AfD's vote, prompting Chrupalla to criticize the method in which agitators expressed their dissatisfaction.
—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for delay
Noun
Travel delays expected during July 4 week Rail authorities have warned of the potential for delays through the weekend.
—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
During the 53-minute delay, the large scoreboard in center field showed the end of Argentina’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
Verb
The extreme heat prompted officials to cancel Saturday morning’s Independence Day parade late Friday, while the opening of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall was delayed.
—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 July 2026
The mass demonstrations delayed AfD's vote, prompting Chrupalla to criticize the method in which agitators expressed their dissatisfaction.
—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for delay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delay
Noun
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Having ended a 28-year wait to make it here, the duo have not suffered from stage fright.
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Prior authorization saves money for insurers partly by making patients pay a price in wait times and inconvenience, said Miranda Yaver, a University of Pittsburgh health policy researcher studying the technique.
Verb
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The town’s predicament highlights the limits of any ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, and the lingering hardship faced by residents whose lives have been upended by years of conflict.
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Robertson answered any lingering questions about his game with his franchise-caliber play.
Verb
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Virginia July 3 Falls Church Civic Jam - postponed to July 24.
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For international taxpayers who have postponed coming into compliance, that trend should not be ignored.
Verb
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But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality.
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Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
Verb
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That’s true even when proceeds are held in escrow (exceptions can apply if the escrow is tied to contingencies), or when payment is deferred.
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For consumers and logistics fleets who deferred major purchases out of fear that gas and diesel prices would remain permanently elevated, this stabilization acts as a powerful green light.
Verb
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So, while the Dodgers crawled out of the hole with a season-high 17 hits, the steep cost heightens the pressure on the rest of the rotation the rest of the series.
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The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.
Verb
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Calderón, a big, bald man wearing a gold chain and cross-shaped earrings, sat off to the side, amid an entourage of muscular assistants in polo shirts, poking at his phone.
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Find a location with an unobstructed view to the southeast, where the full moon’s orangey disk will poke above the horizon minutes after the moonrise time — though exactly when depends on local terrain and buildings.
Verb
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The stock is down about 8% so far in 2026, lagging its major bank peers, all of which are in positive territory.
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The road was so packed that his feet disappeared along the pavement, obstructed from view by those leading and those lagging behind.
Cite this Entry
“Delay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delay. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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