Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Happening later than expected or scheduled: Refers to something that does not occur at the planned or usual time.
   • Slower than normal in progress or development: Describes a process, event, or growth that is behind its typical or anticipated schedule.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The delayed flight finally arrived at midnight. (The flight, which was later than scheduled, finally arrived at midnight.)
  • Due to the delayed delivery, the project timeline had to be extended. (Because the delivery was late, the project schedule needed adjustment.)
  • The child showed delayed speech development. (The child's progress in learning to speak was slower than is typical for their age.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be delayed": This common passive construction emphasizes that an external cause has made something late.
  • The meeting was delayed by the sudden power outage.
• "delayed reaction": A response that occurs significantly after the event that caused it.
  • He had a delayed reaction to the news, only becoming upset hours later.
• "delayed gratification": The act of resisting an immediate reward in favor of a later, often greater, reward.
  • Saving money requires the skill of delayed gratification.

Variants and Related Words

• Delay (verb/noun): The action or instance of causing something to be late.
  • Verb: Heavy traffic may delay your arrival.
  • Noun: We apologize for the delay in service.
• Delayed-action (adjective): Designed to operate after a set period. (Note: This is a compound adjective).
  • A delayed-action camera shutter.

Synonyms

• Postponed: Intentionally scheduled for a later time.
• Deferred: Put off to a future time.
• Behind schedule: Not progressing according to the planned timeline.
• Tardy: Late, especially in arriving.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Hold up: To cause a delay. (Often used in passive voice: "to be held up").
  • The accident held up traffic for miles.
• Set back: To delay the progress of something.
  • Bad weather set back the construction by a week.

Related Idioms

• Better late than never: It is better for something to happen late than for it not to happen at all.
  • He finally submitted his report a week late, but better late than never.
• Behind the times: Not modern or current; delayed in adopting new ideas or technology.
  • The company's software is behind the times.

Adjective

1. not as far along as normal in development