been delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been postponed or held up, often in reference to schedules or timelines. Example: "The delivery of the package has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Proceedings have been delayed.

The Economist

(Those plans have been delayed).

The New York Times - Arts

Andrews, meanwhile, had been delayed.

The New York Times

Every movie has been delayed.

The New York Times

But they've recently been delayed.

The New York Times

Completion of the factory has been delayed.

The New York Times

Nationalists repeatedly claimed it had been delayed.

Independent

On this occasion he had been delayed.

The Economist

Opening day has been delayed.

The New York Times

Construction has repeatedly been delayed.

The Guardian - Sport

Nollywood's arrival has been delayed.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific verbs than "delayed" when the reason is clear (e.g., "postponed" for a conscious decision, "hampered" when there's an obstruction).

Common error

Avoid using "been delay" as "delayed" is the correct past participle form. "Been delay" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been delayed" primarily functions as part of a passive verb construction, indicating that something has experienced a delay. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and usability. Examples include "The flight has been delayed" and "The project has been delayed."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been delayed" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to indicate that something has been postponed or held up. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it serves to inform about setbacks and postponements. While versatile, it's important to consider more specific verbs when the cause of delay is known. Common alternatives include "been postponed" and "been held up". Avoid the common mistake of using "been delay", as "delayed" is the correct past participle form.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been postponed

Replaces "delayed" with a more formal synonym, implying a deliberate rescheduling.

has been held up

Suggests an obstruction or hindrance is causing the delay.

has been pushed back

Indicates a shift to a later time or date, often due to external factors.

has experienced a setback

Highlights the negative impact of the delay, framing it as an obstacle.

is running behind schedule

Implies that progress is slower than planned, resulting in a delay.

is behind schedule

A more concise way to express that something is not on time.

is not on schedule

Another way to emphasize that something is not proceeding according to the plan.

is behind time

A simple way of saying something is not happening at the expected time.

is taking longer than expected

Focuses on the extended duration as the cause of the delay.

is overdue

Highlights that something should have already happened.

FAQs

How to use "been delayed" in a sentence?

The phrase "been delayed" is used to indicate that something has been postponed or held up. For example, "The flight has been delayed due to bad weather" or "The project has been delayed because of funding issues".

What can I say instead of "been delayed"?

You can use alternatives such as "been postponed", "been held up", or "been pushed back" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been delayed" or "is delayed"?

"Has been delayed" indicates that something was scheduled but its occurrence is now later than expected. "Is delayed" implies that something is currently in a state of being late. The better alternative depends on if you're referencing the scheduling (has) or the current state (is).

What is the difference between "been delayed" and "delayed"?

"Been delayed" is part of a verb phrase (e.g., "has been delayed", "had been delayed") and requires an auxiliary verb. "Delayed" can function as an adjective (e.g., "a delayed reaction") or the past tense of the verb "delay" (e.g., "the flight delayed its departure").