Synonyms of delayed

delayed 1 of 3

adjective

as in belated

Related Words

• belated
• late
• posthumous
• postmortem

delayed

2 of 3

adverb

as in postponed

Related Words

• postponed
• deferred
• suspended

Dissimilar Words

• afoot
• under weigh
• under way

delayed

3 of 3

verb

past tense of delay

1

as in lingered

to move or act slowly

she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lingered
• dragged
• crawled
• poked
• lagged
• stalled
• dawdled
• crept
• played
• strolled
• shuffled
• loitered
• dropped behind
• fell behind
• hung fire
• marked time
• tarried
• lollygagged
• diddled
• staggered
• moped
• dallied
• dillydallied
• idled
• took one's time
• shilly-shallied
• dragged one's feet
• lounged
• fooled around
• decelerated
• hung (around or out)
• trifled
• fiddled (around)
• procrastinated
• messed around
• slowed (down or up)
• pottered (around)
• puttered (around)
• eased
• sauntered
• temporized
• ambled
• loafed
• inched
• monkeyed (around)
• lumbered
• filibustered
• lolled
• plodded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurried
• rushed
• hastened
• sped
• flew
• dashed
• ripped
• ran
• raced
• bolted
• scurried
• whisked
• whizzed
• whirled
• tore
• coursed
• rocketed
• scrambled
• zipped
• scooted
• barreled
• hustled
• accelerated
• scudded
• darted
• hurtled
• humped
• breezed
• stampeded
• bowled
• ran
• trotted
• careered
• hotfooted (it)
• quickened
• galloped
• jogged
• sprinted
• sped (up)
• outstripped
• outpaced
• overtook
• caught up
• outran
• fast-forwarded

2

as in deferred

to assign to a later time

our guests delayed their departure until after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• postponed
• deferred
• shelved
• suspended
• remitted
• put off
• laid over
• held over
• put over
• waited
• held off (on)
• slowed
• paused
• hesitated
• prolonged
• held up
• lengthened
• stayed
• retarded
• detained
• stretched (out)
• extended
• protracted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• did
• worked (on)
• decided (upon)
• acted
• dealt (with)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of delayed

Adjective

The delayed flight was one of two crises that Haitian officials faced on Thursday with deportees being returned from the United States. — Gérard Maxineau, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

After Tuesday’s practice, Purdy detailed how a delayed throw to Luke Farrell got intercepted by linebacker Del-Shawn Phillips off near the goal line. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

The Real Problem Is The Ripple A delayed flight is easy to detect. — Ishraq Khan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

In that trial, rings of contacts of cases, as well as contacts of the contacts, were randomized to either get the vaccine immediately or on a delayed basis. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026

Ahead of the commissioners’ discussion and delayed vote, there was a flood of opposition from residents, politicians and voting right groups. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026

The impact is already being felt across various regions, from a delayed start to the Indian monsoon to a temporary halt to Peru’s fishing season. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 21 June 2026

That meant a delayed return to full activities. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 9 June 2026

In a statement provided to KDKA-TV, Allegheny County said that a malfunction led to the delayed opening. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Verb

Oura was just one of several IPOs that have been delayed over the past month. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026

In the same week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman unveiled Dots, the company pulled its latest AI model and delayed its IPO due to existential safety concerns around the very same AI agent tech. — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026

Repairs on the zapped elevators were delayed for days while the floodwaters receded. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

The risks of staying are distributed, delayed and much harder to see. — Stephen Sokoler, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Deliveries of new aircraft have even been delayed because some of the new seats are so elaborate that carriers have been waiting for parts or federal certification. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

The jets for Taiwan were supposed to be delivered in 2024, according to local media, but the project has been delayed by the pandemic and production line issues. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

According to Data Center Watch, $64 billion of data center projects have already been blocked or delayed. — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026

Nielsen’s reporting is delayed; its figures for the week of September 14 will be released this Thursday. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026