very delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"very delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been delayed much more than expected. For example, "The train was very delayed, so we didn't make it to the concert in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

The flight was, in fact, very delayed, finally arriving at Newark at 10 13 p.m. — the most-delayed flight in the nation in July, according to data released this week by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The New York Times

"The agency was very, very delayed in changing its viewpoint".

The New York Times

"The major money was spent because our launch was very, very delayed," Mr. Malmsten said.

The New York Times

The stadium is very delayed and well outside the delivery schedule to ensure best use by Fifa and the Fifa World Cup".

The Guardian - Sport

There is no one to take the patient to the hospital and I arrange an ambulance which is very delayed due to high demand.

The Guardian

When the 4-year-olds started Harlem Gems in 2001, 53 percent were scoring "delayed" or "very delayed" on the Bracken Basic Concept Scale for school readiness.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

It has to be noted that very delay sensitive applications are in general characterized by short packets lengths, such as VoIP, that do not extract all the benefit from the throughput of the system.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The staff losses suggest the growth plans are in trouble, or at the very least delayed.

Forbes

Two million Americans will have their paychecks, at the very least, delayed.

Huffington Post

Bra mutant cells are very much delayed in migrating.

BMC Biology

In general the private companies are growing very fast, doing very well, delaying their I.P.O.'s.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "very delayed", consider the context and whether a more specific descriptor (e.g. "significantly postponed", "considerably behind schedule") would provide greater clarity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "very" excessively can weaken your writing. Explore stronger synonyms for "delayed" to convey the severity of the delay more effectively. For example, instead of "very delayed", consider "critically delayed" or "substantially delayed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very delayed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "very" modifies the adjective "delayed", intensifying its meaning. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this combination is correct and common in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very delayed" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to emphasize the degree of lateness. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usage, it's crucial to consider context and explore stronger synonyms when possible, to prevent overuse of "very" and enhance writing clarity. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, it's deemed neutral in register, making it adaptable across different communication styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly postponed

Emphasizes the degree of postponement more explicitly.

considerably behind schedule

Highlights the deviation from the intended timeline.

substantially overdue

Focuses on the failure to meet a deadline.

severely behind

Highlights the intense lateness.

extremely late

Simple and direct way to convey lateness.

long overdue

Stresses that something should have happened a while ago.

majorly deferred

Focuses on the action of delaying something.

greatly protracted

Highlights that something has been extended for a significant amount of time.

heavily backlogged

Highlights accumulation of items awaiting action.

noticeably late

Emphasizes that lateness is apparent and easily observed.

FAQs

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

You can use "very delayed" to describe something that is much later than expected. For instance, "The project was "very delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "very delayed"?

Some alternatives to "very delayed" include "significantly postponed", "considerably behind schedule", or "substantially overdue". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "very delayed"?

While "delayed" already implies lateness, adding "very" intensifies the degree of delay. Whether it's redundant depends on the context and the desired emphasis. In some cases, a stronger adjective might be more effective.

What's the difference between "delayed" and "very delayed"?

"Delayed" simply means something is late. "Very delayed" emphasizes that something is much later than anticipated. The addition of "very" highlights the severity of the delay.