delay crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com, your ultimate resource for solving challenging crossword clues! Below you'll find a comprehensive list of solutions for "delay crossword clue," organized by letter count, along with detailed explanations to help you understand the nuances of each answer.
Solutions for "delay crossword clue" by Letter Count
3 Letters
LAG: To fall behind or slow down.
5 Letters
PAUSE: A temporary stop or rest.
DEFER: To postpone or put off to a later time.
STALL: To stop or delay progress, often intentionally.
TARRY: To stay or wait in a place; delay departure.
6 Letters
HINDER: To create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay.
HOLDUP: A delay, especially one caused by an unexpected problem.
PUTOFF: To postpone something, often an unpleasant task.
DETAIN: To keep (someone) from proceeding; hold back.
IMPEDE: To delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them.
7 Letters
PROLONG: To extend the duration of; lengthen.
8 Letters
POSTPONE: To cause or arrange for (something) to take place at a time later than that first scheduled.
More About "delay crossword clue"
The concept of "delay" is a staple in crossword puzzles, often appearing in various forms to test a solver's vocabulary and understanding of synonyms. Whether it's a brief halt or a significant postponement, clues related to 'delay' require you to think about different ways time can be held up or actions can be put on hold.
Crossword setters love to use words like 'hold back,' 'slow down,' 'put off,' or 'linger' to point toward solutions like STALL, DEFER, or TARRY. Recognizing these common phrases can significantly speed up your solving process. Furthermore, 'delay' can sometimes hint at a physical obstruction, broadening the scope of potential answers beyond just temporal meanings.
Mastering 'delay' clues is about expanding your mental thesaurus for words that mean to hinder, postpone, or simply take more time. Familiarity with answers of different lengths, from short and common like LAG to longer, more formal terms like POSTPONE, will make you a more versatile crossword solver.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Word Length: Always check the number of letters first. This is the most crucial filter for potential answers to 'delay' and any other clue.
- Consider Nuance: Is the delay brief or long? Intentional or accidental? Words like 'pause' imply a short, often intentional stop, while 'impede' suggests an obstruction.
- Look for Homophones/Puns: While 'delay' itself is straightforward, sometimes a clue might hint at a 'lay' (as in 'to put down') that sounds like 'delay' for a more cryptic answer.
- Check Intersecting Letters: If you have letters from intersecting words, use them to confirm or narrow down your choices for the 'delay' clue. This is often the key to unlocking tricky answers.
- Think of Verbs and Nouns: 'Delay' can be both a verb (to cause to be slow) and a noun (the act of being slow). Consider both possibilities for your answer.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'delay' typically mean in crossword puzzles?
In crossword puzzles, 'delay' most commonly refers to an act of slowing down, postponing, holding back, or causing something to happen later than planned. Clues can use synonyms or phrases that imply a deferral or a halt in progress. It's often a straightforward synonym clue, but sometimes it might appear in a more cryptic context.
Are there common synonyms for 'delay' used in crosswords?
Yes, many! Common synonyms for 'delay' frequently seen in crosswords include PAUSE, STALL, DEFER, TARRY, LAG, HOLDUP, HINDER, IMPEDE, and POSTPONE. Depending on the length, more specific terms like PROLONG or PUTOFF might also be used. Always consider the number of letters required for the answer.
How can I solve 'delay' clues more efficiently?
To solve 'delay' clues efficiently, first consider the number of letters. Then, brainstorm common synonyms for 'delay' that fit that length. Pay attention to any other words in the clue that might provide context or a specific nuance. For example, 'brief delay' might point to PAUSE, while 'hold up progress' could suggest STALL or HINDER. Checking intersecting letters from other answers will also narrow down the possibilities.