delay
delay — verb
1. to change the time of a planned event so that it takes place further in the futu
to change the time of a planned event so that it takes place further in the future than originally arranged
The airline delayed the flight until the next morning because of thick fog.
collocation: delay + flight
Darius delayed his decision for another week while he reviewed the contract.
delay + decision / noun phrase object
The school delayed the start of classes after the earthquake damaged several buildings.
If you delay paying the bill, the company will add a late fee.
- postpone
more formal; preferred when naming the new date or time
- put off
informal, common in everyday conversation (B2)
- reschedule
neutral; suggests arranging a new time rather than just making it later
- bring forward
moves something to an earlier time (B2 phrasal verb)
- advance
formal, used in scheduling (C1)
文法句型
delay + noun phrase
delay + gerund
用法筆記
Frequently used with a time expression ("by two hours", "until next week") to specify how long or until when the event is moved.
常見錯誤
2. to cause a person, vehicle, or process to move more slowly or arrive later than
to cause a person, vehicle, or process to move more slowly or arrive later than planned
A flat tyre delayed Eri on the drive to the airport.
delay + person + on [path/route]
The delivery was delayed by three hours because of a problem at the warehouse.
passive: be delayed by [cause] + [time]
Customs checks delayed the shipment for nearly a whole day.
Andrew was delayed by a long phone call just as he was about to leave.
- speed up
opposite of slowing down (B1)
- accelerate
formal (B2)
文法句型
delay + noun phrase (someone/something)
be delayed by [cause]
用法筆記
The cause of the delay is typically introduced by 'by' (delayed by traffic), 'because of', or 'due to'. The passive voice is very common in this sense.
常見錯誤
3. to wait before doing something although you have no good reason to wait, often b
to wait before doing something although you have no good reason to wait, often because the task is unpleasant or difficult
Astrid delayed before giving her answer to the job offer.
delay + before + gerund
The government delayed too long, and the crisis became much worse.
Do not delay in sending your application, or you will miss the deadline.
Tamar delayed for weeks before finally booking the flight.
- procrastinate
more formal; strongly implies laziness or avoidance (C1)
- hesitate
suggests uncertainty or fear, not laziness (B2)
- dally
old-fashioned or literary; implies wasting time (C2)
- act promptly
formal phrase (C1)
- get on with it
informal phrasal expression (B2)
文法句型
delay (in) + gerund
delay before + gerund
用法筆記
This sense is intransitive — there is no direct object. The structure is 'delay in + gerund' or 'delay before + gerund'. In commands and warnings, 'delay' can stand alone: 'Don't delay!'
常見錯誤
delay — noun
1. a period of waiting that is longer than expected, or the situation of being made
a period of waiting that is longer than expected, or the situation of being made late when you were expecting to move or act on time
There was a long delay before the doctor could see Nikhil.
there was + delay + before [event]
Flight delays happen more often during the winter months because of bad weather.
flight delay (common compound noun)
The manager apologized for the delay in shipping the order.
Sofie completed the report without delay and handed it in the same day.
文法句型
delay in + noun/gerund
there is/are + delay
without delay
用法筆記
Common in travel contexts (flight/train delays) and business contexts (production/shipping delays). The fixed phrase 'without delay' means 'immediately'.