Delay Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of DELAY

1

:

a situation in which something happens later than it should

[count]

• Do you know what's causing the delay?
• The nurse apologized for the delay [=_wait_] and said that the doctor would be in shortly.
• a number of flight delays

[noncount]

• After months of delay, construction on the new school began.
• The roof must be repaired without delay. [=_immediately_]

2

[count]

:

the amount of time that you must wait for something that is late

• Airline travelers are experiencing delays of up to three hours.

Britannica Dictionary definition of DELAY

1

:

to wait until later to do something

:

to make something happen later

[+ object]

• The doctor wants to delay surgery for a few weeks.
• They delayed [=_put off_] having children until their late 30s.
• She's planning to delay her retirement.

[no object]

• He delayed too long, and now it's too late.
• “Don't delay! Sale ends Saturday.”

2

[+ object]

:

to make (something or someone) late

:

to make (something or someone) take longer than expected or planned

• Production problems delayed the introduction of the new model by several months.

— often used as (be) delayed

• We were delayed by traffic.
• Many flights were delayed.

— delayed

adjective

[more delayed; most delayed]

• He had a very delayed reaction to the medication. [=a reaction that did not happen immediately]