A1 noun Neutral #3,773 most common

delayed

/dɪˈleɪd/

Delayed describes something that happens later than the planned or expected time. It is most commonly used to talk about transport, schedules, or events that are held back by a problem.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The bus is delayed because of the heavy rain.

The bus is delayed because of the heavy rain.

2

The departure of flight BA204 has been delayed by two hours.

The departure of flight BA204 has been delayed by two hours.

3

Sorry I'm late, my train was totally delayed.

Sorry I'm late, my train was totally delayed.

Word Family

Noun
delay
Verb
delay
Adverb
belatedly
Adjective
delayed
Related
delayer
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'D' in Delayed as 'Down time' – the time you spend sitting down waiting because you cannot start yet.

Quick Quiz

The soccer game was ______ because of the thunderstorm.

Correct!

The correct answer is: delayed

Examples

1

The bus is delayed because of the heavy rain.

everyday

The bus is delayed because of the heavy rain.

2

The departure of flight BA204 has been delayed by two hours.

formal

The departure of flight BA204 has been delayed by two hours.

3

Sorry I'm late, my train was totally delayed.

informal

Sorry I'm late, my train was totally delayed.

4

The publication of the research was delayed for further peer review.

academic

The publication of the research was delayed for further peer review.

5

Our meeting is delayed until 3:00 PM due to the conference room being full.

business

Our meeting is delayed until 3:00 PM due to the conference room being full.

Word Family

Noun
delay
Verb
delay
Adverb
belatedly
Adjective
delayed
Related
delayer

Common Collocations

heavily delayed very late
flight delayed plane not leaving on time
slightly delayed a little bit late
delayed reaction a slow response to something
long delayed late for a significant amount of time

Common Phrases

delayed start

beginning something later than planned

sorry for being delayed

an apology for arriving or finishing late

indefinitely delayed

late with no known time for starting

Often Confused With

delayed vs postponed

Postponed means a decision was made to move the time to a specific later date; delayed usually means something is just running late.

delayed vs late

Late is a general adjective; delayed often implies that a specific process or external force caused the lateness.

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Usage Notes

Use 'delayed' as an adjective after the verb 'to be' to describe the status of transport or appointments. It is more formal than simply saying 'late'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often say 'I am delay' instead of 'I am delayed' or 'There is a delay'. Remember that 'delayed' is the adjective form describing the person or object.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'D' in Delayed as 'Down time' – the time you spend sitting down waiting because you cannot start yet.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'delaier', which means to put off or defer to a later time.

Grammar Patterns

Often used in the passive voice (was/has been delayed) Can be used as a participial adjective before a noun (a delayed train) Usually followed by 'by' to indicate the amount of time
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Cultural Context

In many cultures, transport announcements use 'delayed' to manage passenger expectations during travel disruptions.

Quick Quiz

The soccer game was ______ because of the thunderstorm.

Correct!

The correct answer is: delayed

More Descriptions words

tiny

A1

Describes something that is very small in size, amount, or degree. It is more emphatic than the word 'small' and is often used to highlight how little something is.

miniature

A1

A very small copy or model of something that is usually much larger. It can also refer to a very small painting, especially a portrait.

tall

A1

Describing something or someone that has a greater than average height. It is typically used for living things like people and trees, or narrow objects like buildings and towers.

low

A1

Not high or tall in height, often positioned close to the ground or a base level. It can also describe a small amount of something, a quiet sound, or a sad mood.

wide

A1

Describes something that has a large distance from one side to the other. It is used to talk about the breadth of physical objects like roads, doors, or rivers.

thick

A1

Describes something that has a large distance between its two opposite sides or surfaces. It can also describe liquids that are dense and do not flow easily, or things that grow closely together like hair or forest trees.

thin

A1

Describes something that has a small distance between its two opposite sides or surfaces. It can also describe a person or animal that has very little body fat.

deep

A1

As a noun, 'the deep' refers to the ocean or a very large and deep body of water. It is also used to describe the most intense or central part of a period of time, such as the middle of the night or winter.

perfect

A1

In grammar, the perfect refers to a verb form that shows an action is completed or finished. It is also used in the phrase 'practice makes perfect' to describe a state of having no mistakes.

terrible

A1

Used to describe something that is very bad, of poor quality, or causes great unhappiness. It is a strong way to say that you dislike something or that a situation is very unpleasant.

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