What does delayed mean?
"Delayed" describes something that happens, arrives, or is done later than the time originally planned or expected. It is most often encountered in everyday contexts such as transport — a delayed flight or train is one that has not left or arrived on schedule — but it applies equally to payments, decisions, deliveries, and events of any kind. The word can describe an unintentional setback caused by circumstances (bad weather delayed the launch) or a deliberate postponement chosen for strategic reasons (a delayed response allowed tempers to cool). In psychology and self-help writing, "delayed gratification" has become a well-known phrase describing the ability to resist an immediate reward in favour of a greater one later. Grammatically, "delayed" serves both as the past tense and past participle of the verb "delay" and as an adjective in its own right. Its tone is neutral rather than judgemental, making it suitable for everything from formal apologies to casual conversation.
Occurring, arriving, or done later than the scheduled or expected time.
"Commuters faced long queues after a series of delayed trains."
Frequently used attributively in travel and service contexts.
Past tense and past participle of 'delay': to make someone or something late, or to postpone until a later time.
"Heavy fog delayed the start of the race by two hours."
The famous 'marshmallow test' made 'delayed gratification' a household phrase — the idea that waiting now can mean winning later.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of delayed
"Delayed" comes from the verb "delay", which entered English in the late Middle Ages from Old French "delaiier" (also "deslaier"), meaning to put off or postpone. The French verb itself appears to be formed from the intensive prefix "des-" plus a root related to leaving something aside or letting go, with possible Germanic influence. It replaced or absorbed the older native expression of the same meaning and became firmly established in English by the early modern period, appearing frequently in legal and administrative texts where postponement mattered.
Related word forms
How delayed is actually used
Mostly used attributively before a noun (a delayed flight) or predicatively (the train was delayed). Neutral register; common in travel announcements and formal notices alike.
Easily confused with delayed
'Decayed' means rotted or deteriorated, while 'delayed' means postponed or running late.