experience a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"experience a delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to a period of time where something or someone is late or running behind schedule. For example, "We experienced a brief delay when traveling on the subway this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

(According to an investigation conducted by K.B.R., "P.P.I. employees... became agitated after being told they'd experience a delay while additional food was prepared".

The New Yorker

As in my case, women who experience a delay in milk production from these types of deliveries frequently end up relying on bottle-feeding to nourish their infants.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, areas throughout the tropics and the mid-southern hemisphere, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Peru, may experience a delay in their ozone recovery.

Science Magazine

However, you can add the channel through the direct link here if you also experience a delay in being able to surface it through search.].

TechCrunch

Both systems experience a delay between the synchronization stage and the transmission stage, e.g., the synchronization is based on a feedback from the receiver terminal [15].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Whenever a control channel switches to one of the service channels, safety messages experience a delay equal to the operation time of the service channel.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

The patients and parents were encouraged to provide us with feedback should a patient experience a delayed allergic reaction after returning home.

BMJ Open

Patients who experience a delayed discharge are at increased risk of accelerated functional decline, social isolation, as well as the loss of independence [ 15- 20].

BMC Health Services Research

Mr. Filner had "experienced a delay in claiming his bag," according to United Airlines.

The New York Times

By 11 13 a.m., Nasdaq warned market participants that it was experiencing a delay in delivering the opening price.

The New York Times

"We know how important Mother's Day is and we have apologised to and compensated all customers who have experienced a delay.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "experience a delay", clearly state the cause and expected duration to provide context for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "experience a delay" when a stronger term like "cancel" or "halt" is more appropriate. "Experience a delay" implies a temporary setback, not a complete stop.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experience a delay" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone or something is encountering a period of lateness or postponement. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "experience a delay" is a phrase used to describe a situation where something is temporarily postponed or slowed down. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, although it's a relatively rare expression. The phrase is most commonly found in science and news media contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to provide context about the cause and expected duration of the delay. Alternatives like "encounter a setback" or "face a postponement" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter a setback

Replaces "delay" with "setback", suggesting an unexpected problem that causes a delay.

face a postponement

Uses the noun "postponement" to emphasize the act of delaying something to a later time.

undergo a deferment

Formally indicates a temporary suspension or postponement, often in official contexts.

meet with holdup

Implies that a delay is caused by an external factor that is actively preventing progress.

be subject to hindrance

More formal; suggests that progress is being actively impeded.

run into obstruction

Suggests encountering an obstacle causing a delay, often unexpected.

suffer a retardation

Stronger term; implies that progress is slowed down significantly or stopped entirely.

have a suspension

Highlights a temporary stop in operations or progress.

meet an impediment

Suggests that delay is due to encountering an obstacle that makes progress difficult.

bear a protraction

Refers to the process of extending something in time, making it longer or delayed.

FAQs

What does it mean to "experience a delay"?

To "experience a delay" means to encounter a situation where something is postponed, slowed down, or temporarily set back from its expected schedule. It suggests that the item or event is not occurring as planned or on time.

How can I use "experience a delay" in a sentence?

You can use "experience a delay" to describe various situations, such as: "The flight "experienced a delay" due to bad weather." Or, "Our project "experienced a delay" because of unforeseen technical issues."

What are some alternatives to "experience a delay"?

Some alternatives include "encounter a setback", "face a postponement", or "undergo a deferment", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "experience a delay" or "have a delay"?

"Experience a delay" is generally considered more formal and precise. "Have a delay" is acceptable but may sound less professional in some contexts. The best choice depends on the tone and audience of your communication.