delay: meaning and words from its letters
5 letters · 9 letter points · starts with D · ends with Y
Meaning of delay
noun
- countable, uncountable
A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
Example: the delay before the echo of a sound
- countable, uncountable
An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
- countable, uncountable
Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”).
- countable, uncountable
An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.
Listed forms: delays.
Source: Wiktionary — delay.
verb
- transitive
To put off until a later time; to defer.
- transitive
To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
Example: The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
- intransitive
To wait, hesitate, tarry.
Example: Don't delay; this special offer ends at midnight!
- obsolete, transitive
To allay; to temper.
Listed forms: delays, delaying, delayed.
Source: Wiktionary — delay.
verb
- obsolete
To dilute, temper.
- obsolete
To assuage, quench, allay.
Listed forms: delays, delaying, delayed.
Source: Wiktionary — delay.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for delay.
noun
time during which some action is awaited
- hold
- time lag
- postponement
- wait
noun
the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
verb
cause to be slowed down or delayed
- detain
- hold up
verb
stop or halt
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is delay in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of delay
D(2) + E(1) + L(1) + A(1) + Y(4) = 9 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of delay
0 other standard-list words use exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
No other single-word anagram was found in our standard list.
Shorter words from delay
29 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in delay. Showing up to 24, longest first.