heavily delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"heavily delayed" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that has been significantly delayed by a long period of time. For example, "The train was heavily delayed due to mechanical issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The findings cast additional doubt on the heavily delayed scheme, which faces severe difficulties.

The Guardian

As a result of this hectic schedule, the recording of Helplessness Blues was heavily delayed.

The Guardian - Music

It's almost as if they are saying that the project will be heavily delayed and go vastly over budget.

The Guardian

Hundreds of other flights on a wide range of airlines were heavily delayed, leaving planes, pilots and passengers out of position.

Independent

No cash compensation is due to passengers whose flights are cancelled or heavily delayed, because the event counts as an "extraordinary circumstance".

Independent

For those of us among the Musketeers and Scooby-Doos further back the field, you couldn't really tell that anything was amiss apart from a heavily delayed start and some worryingly empty water stations early on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

MPs will also criticise the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for cutting CCRC's funding, which they believe is financially counterproductive as it will heavily delay cases from being processed.

Independent

Automakers had lobbied heavily to delay the electric car, or zero-emission vehicle mandate, saying the vehicles were not yet technologically or financially viable.

The New York Times

Wounds that are heavily contaminated may need delayed primary closure to minimize the risk of infection.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

The 24th Infantry made a desperate stand against the North Koreans in the Battle of Taejon, where it was heavily decimated, but it delayed the North Korean advance until July 20.

Wikipedia

Iain Duncan Smith has been heavily criticised for delaying the release of statistics on the number of benefit claimants who have died after having their benefits sanctioned, or stopped.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "heavily delayed", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and the reason for the delay. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "heavily delayed" is acceptable, consider using simpler alternatives like "late" or "behind schedule" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heavily delayed" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or noun phrase. It indicates a significant postponement. Examples from Ludwig confirm its use in describing projects, flights, and releases that are considerably behind schedule.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heavily delayed" is a commonly used phrase to describe significant postponements, primarily found in News & Media and Science contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, suggesting it’s suitable for various writing scenarios where emphasizing the magnitude of a delay is necessary. When a less emphatic tone is required you can make use of "behind schedule".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Significantly delayed

Emphasizes the importance or degree of the delay.

Substantially delayed

Indicates a considerable amount of delay.

Severely delayed

Highlights the seriousness or impact of the delay.

Extensively delayed

Focuses on the length or scope of the delay.

Considerably delayed

Suggests the delay is noteworthy.

Massively delayed

Emphasizes the large scale of the delay.

Greatly delayed

Highlights the intensity of the delay.

Seriously behind schedule

Indicates that the object has not happened at the expected time.

Badly behind schedule

Indicates that the object has not happened at the expected time and that's bad.

Long overdue

Describes something that should have happened or been done before now.

FAQs

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

You can use "heavily delayed" to describe something that is significantly behind schedule. For example, "The project was "significantly delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What's a more formal way to say "heavily delayed"?

A more formal alternative to "heavily delayed" could be "substantially delayed" or "severely delayed", depending on the degree and impact of the delay.

When is it appropriate to use "heavily delayed" over simpler terms like "late"?

"Heavily delayed" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the significant extent of the delay. It suggests the delay has a substantial impact, unlike a simple "late".

Are there situations where "heavily delayed" might not be the best choice?

In very informal contexts, using simpler language might be preferable. Terms like "late" or "behind schedule" might be more suitable for casual conversation.