What does delay mean?
Delay means to postpone an action or event, causing it to happen later than originally intended or expected. As a verb, it can be transitive — as when weather delays a flight — or intransitive, as when one delays before answering. As a noun, delay refers both to the act of postponement and to the interval of lateness itself, as in 'a delay of two hours'. The word appears constantly in everyday life: transport announcements, project management, legal proceedings ('without undue delay'), and personal decisions. Its connotations depend on context — a deliberate delay can be prudent, while an unexplained delay often frustrates. Related words include 'postpone', 'defer', and the more critical 'procrastinate', which implies habitual or blameworthy delay. Because delay is so frequent in news, scheduling, and official language, mastering its collocations — such as 'cause a delay' or 'without further delay' — makes communication clearer and more natural.
To postpone or defer an action or event; to make someone or something late or slower than expected.
"The committee voted to delay the decision until more evidence was available."
Can be used transitively ('they delayed the launch') or intransitively ('she delayed before replying').
A period of time during which something happens later than expected; the act of postponing.
"There was a short delay before the train departed."
Often modified by adjectives indicating cause or duration: 'slight delay', 'lengthy delay', 'unexplained delay'.
Used when referring to multiple instances of lateness or postponement, especially in reporting or planning contexts.
"Repeated delays pushed the project well past its deadline."
The word 'delay' shares its Latin root with 'dilate' and 'dilatory' — all tracing back to 'dis-' (apart) plus 'laxare' (to loosen), literally meaning to loosen apart or slacken time's grip.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of delay
Delay entered English in the Middle Ages via Old French 'delaier', ultimately from Vulgar Latin 'dilaxare', formed from the prefix 'dis-' (apart) and 'laxare' (to loosen). The same Latin root gives us 'dilate' and 'relax', while the adjective 'dilatory' — meaning slow to act or tending to delay — is a direct sibling from the related Latin form 'dilatorius'. The noun sense developed alongside the verb, appearing in English texts from roughly the fourteenth century onward.
Related word forms
How delay is actually used
'Delay' is neutral in tone but often carries mild negative connotations in contexts like travel or business, where delays are unwelcome. In formal writing, phrases like 'without delay' signal urgency. As both verb and noun, it is common across registers.
Easily confused with delay
Detain means to hold someone against their will or keep them in custody, while delay simply means making someone or something late.