delay

delay — 動詞

1. to change the time of a planned event so that it takes place further in the futu

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

延後；延期

將已排定的活動改到較晚時間

to change the time of a planned event so that it takes place further in the future than originally arranged

例句

The airline delayed the flight until the next morning because of thick fog.

由於濃霧，航空公司將航班延後到隔天早上。

collocation: delay + flight

Darius delayed his decision for another week while he reviewed the contract.

Darius 將決定延後一週，以便仔細審閱合約。

delay + decision / noun phrase object

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

❌The meeting was delayed to next Friday.
✅The meeting was postponed to next Friday.
💡'delay' describes how late something is; 'postpone' is preferred when giving a specific new date.

2. to cause a person, vehicle, or process to move more slowly or arrive later than

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

耽擱；延誤

使人、車或流程變慢或遲到

to cause a person, vehicle, or process to move more slowly or arrive later than planned

例句

A flat tyre delayed Eri on the drive to the airport.

Eri 在開車去機場的路上因為爆胎而耽擱了。

delay + person + on [path/route]

The delivery was delayed by three hours because of a problem at the warehouse.

由於倉庫出了問題，貨物被延誤了三個小時。

passive: be delayed by [cause] + [time]

同義詞
  • hold up

    informal phrasal verb with the same meaning (B2)

  • slow down

    focuses on reducing speed, not necessarily making late (B1)

  • hinder

    formal; suggests obstruction rather than lateness (C1)

反義詞

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

❌My husband delayed me this morning.
✅My husband delayed me this morning.' is grammatically correct but unusual
💡more natural: 'I was delayed by my husband this morning.' — the passive voice sounds more natural when a person is the subject of 'delay'.

3. to wait before doing something although you have no good reason to wait, often b

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

拖延

遲遲不行動，耽誤時間

to wait before doing something although you have no good reason to wait, often because the task is unpleasant or difficult

例句

Astrid delayed before giving her answer to the job offer.

Astrid 遲遲沒有答覆那份工作邀請。

delay + before + gerund

The government delayed too long, and the crisis became much worse.

政府拖延太久，結果危機變得更嚴重。

同義詞
  • 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)

反義詞

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

❌She delayed to see a doctor.
✅She delayed seeing a doctor.
💡'delay' takes a gerund (-ing form), not a to-infinitive.
❌He delayed his homework' (when meaning he was slow to start).
✅He delayed doing his homework.
💡This sense is intransitive; use a gerund after 'delay'.

delay — 名詞