delay

noun

/dɪˈleɪ/

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[countable, uncountable] a period of time when somebody/something has to wait because of a problem that makes something slow or late
- Commuters will face long delays on the roads today.
- to experience/suffer delays
- to avoid/minimize further delays
- Increased congestion and traffic delays are expected.
- a delay of two hours/a two-hour delay
- delay in something The strike has led to some delays in train services.
- delay in doing something We apologize for the delay in answering your letter.
- delay to something These issues have caused serious delays to the project.
- Flights to New York may be subject to delay.
Collocations Travel and tourism
Travel and tourismHolidays/vacations
- have/take (British English) a holiday/(North American English) a vacation/a break/a day off/(British English) a gap year
- go on/be on holiday/vacation/leave/honeymoon/safari/a trip/a tour/a cruise/a pilgrimage
- go backpacking/camping/hitchhiking/sightseeing
- plan a trip/a holiday/a vacation/your itinerary
- book accommodation/a hotel room/a flight/tickets
- have/make/cancel a reservation/(especially British English) booking
- rent a villa/(both British English) a holiday home/a holiday cottage
- (especially British English) hire/ (especially North American English) rent a car/bicycle/moped
- stay in a hotel/a bed and breakfast/a youth hostel/a villa/(both British English) a holiday home/a caravan
- cost/charge $100 a/per night for a single/double/twin/standard/(British English) en suite room
- check into/out of a hotel/a motel/your room
- pack/unpack your suitcase/bags
- call/order room service
- cancel/cut short a trip/holiday/vacation
Foreign travel
- apply for/get/renew a/your passport
- take out/buy/get travel insurance
- catch/miss your plane/train/ferry/connecting flight
- fly (in)/travel in business/economy class
- make/have a brief/two-day/twelve-hour stopover/(North American English also) layover in Hong Kong
- experience/cause/lead to delays
- check (in)/collect/get/lose (your) (especially British English) luggage/(especially North American English) baggage
- be charged for/pay excess baggage
- board/get on/leave/get off the aircraft/plane/ship/ferry
- taxi down/leave/approach/hit/overshoot the runway
- experience/hit/encounter severe turbulence
- suffer from/recover from/get over your jet lag/travel sickness
The tourist industry
- attract/draw/bring tourists/visitors
- encourage/promote/hurt tourism
- promote/develop ecotourism
- build/develop/visit a tourist/holiday/(especially British English) seaside/beach/ski resort
- work for/be operated by a major hotel chain
- be served by/compete with low-cost/(especially North American English) low-fare/budget airlines
- book something through/make a booking through/use a travel agent
- contact/check with your travel agent/tour operator
- book/be on/go on a package deal/holiday/tour
- buy/bring back (tacky/overpriced) souvenirs
Extra Examples
- After a series of lengthy delays, the case finally came to court.
- I apologize for the delay in replying to you.
- Passengers complain about lack of information when travel delays occur.
- Passengers have experienced long delays.
- Please address your letters properly so as to reduce delays.
- The building project has been plagued by bureaucratic delays.
- Undue delays have been caused by people not doing their jobs properly.
- delays in getting to the airport
- further delays to the plan
- There is a five-minute time delay on the bank's safe.
- Travel delays and cancellations are to be expected.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- considerable
- enormous
- lengthy
- …
… of delays
- series
verb + delay
- be subject to
- be plagued by
- encounter
- …
delay + verb
- occur
preposition
- without delay
- delay in
- delay of
- …
See full entry
[uncountable] failure to do something quickly or at the right time; the act of delaying
- There's no time for delay.
- without delay Report it to the police without delay (= immediately).
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- considerable
- enormous
- lengthy
- …
… of delays
- series
verb + delay
- be subject to
- be plagued by
- encounter
- …
delay + verb
- occur
preposition
- without delay
- delay in
- delay of
- …
See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French delayer (verb).

delay

verb

/dɪˈleɪ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they delay	/dɪˈleɪ/ /dɪˈleɪ/
he / she / it delays	/dɪˈleɪz/ /dɪˈleɪz/
past simple delayed	/dɪˈleɪd/ /dɪˈleɪd/
past participle delayed	/dɪˈleɪd/ /dɪˈleɪd/
-ing form delaying	/dɪˈleɪɪŋ/ /dɪˈleɪɪŋ/

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[transitive] delay somebody/something to make somebody/something late or force them to do something more slowly
- My flight was delayed.
- Thousands of commuters were delayed for over an hour.
- The government is accused of using delaying tactics (= deliberately doing something to delay a process, decision, etc.).
- What could have delayed him?
Extra Examples
- Mellanby's arrival was seriously delayed by a late train.
- The train had been unavoidably delayed after a small avalanche blocked the line.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- seriously
- significantly
- substantially
- …
See full entry
[intransitive, transitive] to not do something until a later time or to make something happen at a later time synonym defer
- Don't delay—call us today!
- We can't delay much longer.
- delay something Heavy hail showers delayed the start of the race.
- the delay the launch/release/publication of something
- She's suffering a delayed reaction (= a reaction that did not happen immediately) to the shock.
- delay something until… The judge will delay his verdict until he receives medical reports on the offender.
- delay doing something He delayed telling her the news, waiting for the right moment.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by -ing forms
Verbs usually followed by -ing forms
- avoid
- consider
- delay
- deny
- enjoy
- escape
- finish
- give up
- imagine
- involve
- mention
- mind
- miss
- postpone
- practise
- resist
- risk
- suggest
Extra Examples
- These drugs can significantly delay the onset of the disease.
- The conservative coalition could delay further reforms or block them altogether.
- These arguments will inevitably delay the start of construction.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- seriously
- significantly
- substantially
- …
See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French delayer (verb).