Synonyms of delay

delay 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈlā 

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

• wait
• holdup
• postponement
• detention
• deferral
• pause
• setback
• lag
• deferment
• hesitation
• slowdown
• detainment
• holding pattern
• holdback
• respite
• foot-dragging
• reprieve

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rush
• haste
• dispatch
• promptness
• promptitude

delay

2 of 2

verb

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

• linger
• drag
• crawl
• poke
• lag
• creep
• dawdle
• mark time
• fall behind
• stroll
• play
• loiter
• hang fire
• drop behind
• shuffle
• lallygag
• stall
• tarry
• diddle
• mope
• lollygag
• dillydally
• stagger
• lounge
• drag one's heels
• idle
• take one's time
• shilly-shally
• drag one's feet
• fool around
• hang (around or out)
• trifle
• fiddle (around)
• dally
• mess around
• potter (around)
• slow (down or up)
• putter (around)
• decelerate
• ease
• temporize
• loaf
• amble
• saunter
• monkey (around)
• procrastinate
• inch
• loll
• filibuster
• plod
• lumber

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurry
• rush
• course
• hasten
• speed
• race
• career
• tear
• fly
• run
• rocket
• rip
• dash
• scurry
• bolt
• breeze
• whirl
• whisk
• scoot
• barrel
• scramble
• zip
• hustle
• stampede
• hump
• accelerate
• hurtle
• dart
• run
• whiz
• sprint
• gallop
• jog
• speed (up)
• whizz
• quicken
• hotfoot (it)
• scud
• trot
• overtake
• catch up
• bowl
• outrun
• outstrip
• outpace
• fast-forward

2

as in to postpone

to assign to a later time

our guests delayed their departure until after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• postpone
• defer
• wait
• put over
• put off
• remit
• hesitate
• lay over
• shelve
• hold over
• hold off (on)
• suspend
• slow
• pause
• hold up
• retard
• prolong
• lengthen
• stay
• stretch (out)
• detain
• extend
• protract

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• do
• act
• work (on)
• deal (with)
• decide (upon)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word delay different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of delay are dally, dawdle, lag, loiter, and procrastinate. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

Where would dally be a reasonable alternative to delay?

The words dally and delay can be used in similar contexts, but dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When can lag be used instead of delay?

In some situations, the words lag and delay are roughly equivalent. However, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of delay?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows

children dawdling on their way home from school

When is procrastinate a more appropriate choice than delay?

The synonyms procrastinate and delay are sometimes interchangeable, but procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of delay

Noun

The broadcast showed the 26-year-old All-Pro looking for food during the delay. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025

Say bye to cash flight delay compensation. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

Verb

In 2024, the competition was delayed a week after one of the contestants was fatally mauled by a rival bear with the attack seen on the live webcams. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

Shot across Tokyo and Phnom Penh, production began in 2020 but was delayed for two years by the COVID-19 pandemic. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025