verb
1.
to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress
was delayed by traffic
Synonyms: bog (down), decelerate, detain, embog, hang up, mire, retard, set back, slacken, slow (up or down)
Related Word: block, hinder, impede, obstruct; defer, hold over, hold up, intermit, postpone, put off, stay, suspend; arrest, check, interrupt
Idioms: hang fire
Contrasted words: accelerate, hasten, hurry, precipitate, quicken, speed; advance, forward, further, promote
Antonyms: expedite
2.
to move or act slowly so that progress or work is retarded
their landlord kept delaying in making repairs
Synonyms: dally, dawdle, dilly, dillydally, drag, lag, linger, loiter, mull, poke, procrastinate, put off, tarry, trail
Related Word: hang back, idle, wait; drone; falter, hesitate, vacillate, waver
Idioms: take one's own sweet ( or good) time
Antonyms: hasten, hurry
3.
Synonyms: defer , hold off, hold over, hold up, postpone, prorogue, put off, shelve, stay, suspend