Delays

/dɪˈleɪz/ noun, verb

Definition

Periods of time when something is made to wait or is put off from happening, or the act of making something take longer to happen.

Etymology

From Old French 'delayer,' derived from 'de-' (away) and 'laisser' (to leave), literally meaning 'to leave behind or postpone.'

Kelly Says

The psychology of delays is fascinating—a 15-minute delay feels different psychologically depending on whether you know how long it will last; uncertainty actually makes waits feel longer to our brains.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.