be delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"be delayed" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to communicate that something is running late or experiencing a delay. For example: - The flight was delayed due to bad weather. - Our meeting will have to be delayed until next week due to scheduling conflicts. - The delivery of the package was delayed by two days. - My train was delayed, so I arrived an hour later than expected. - The construction project has been delayed by several months. In each of these examples, "be delayed" is used to indicate that something is not happening as planned or expected and is experiencing a delay.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"This cannot be delayed".

Independent

"Paychecks would be delayed.

The New York Times

"Needed infrastructure projects will be delayed".

The New York Times

Voice or video communications can be delayed.

The Economist

Can the vote be delayed or prevented?

The New York Times

"'Gentlemen: It cannot be delayed longer!

The Economist

But the election could be delayed.

The Economist

The project could still be delayed.

The New York Times

Elections must not be delayed.

The Guardian - Opinion

That could be delayed until mid-November.

The New York Times

It must not be delayed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be delayed" to clearly indicate that an event, action, or process is happening later than expected. It's a straightforward way to communicate a change in schedule.

Common error

Avoid using "be delay" or mixing up active and passive voice when describing a delay. Always ensure the correct form, such as "the flight will be delayed" instead of "the flight will delay".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be delayed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of being delayed. This construction is commonly used to describe events, schedules, or processes that are not occurring on time, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be delayed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction indicating that something is happening later than expected. According to Ludwig, it is appropriate for various registers, but it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using "be delayed", ensure correct tense and voice. Alternative phrases like ""be postponed"" or ""be held up"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be postponed

Emphasizes a formal rescheduling to a later time.

be put off

Highlights the action of deferring something.

be held up

Indicates an obstruction causing the delay.

be rescheduled

Focuses on the act of assigning a new time or date.

be set back

Suggests a setback or hindrance affecting the original schedule.

encounter a delay

Highlights the experience of facing a delay.

experience a setback

Focuses on the negative impact of the delay.

run behind schedule

Indicates that something is progressing slower than planned.

be adjourned

Refers to a formal suspension of proceedings to a later time.

be suspended

Highlights a temporary interruption or cessation.

FAQs

How can I use "be delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "be delayed" to indicate that something is happening later than planned. For instance, "The meeting will be delayed until next week" or "The project is expected to "be delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "be delayed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "be postponed", "be put off", or "be held up" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "is delay" instead of "is delayed"?

No, "is delay" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "is delayed", which uses the passive voice to indicate that something is experiencing a delay.

What is the difference between "be delayed" and "be adjourned"?

"Be delayed" generally means something is happening later than expected. "Be adjourned" refers specifically to a formal suspension of a meeting or legal proceeding to a later time.