was delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"was delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation in which something has become later than expected. For example: The train was delayed, so we arrived at the destination an hour later than planned.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The hearing was delayed.

The New York Times

That flight was delayed.

The New York Times

" 'I' was delayed".

The New Yorker

The inspection was delayed.

The New York Times - Science

Wednesday was delayed.

The New York Times

The flight was delayed, however.

The Economist

Sharon was delayed.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was delayed anyway.

The New York Times - Travel

Then it was delayed.

The New Yorker

But Kehazaei's transfer was delayed.

The Guardian

"Of course I was delayed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the context to choose a synonym that best fits the tone. "Was postponed" is more formal than "was held up".

Common error

Ensure the verb tense aligns with the timeline of the event you're describing. Avoid using "was delay" as it's grammatically incorrect; always use "was delayed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was delayed" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject of the sentence experienced a delay caused by an external factor. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was delayed" is a very common and grammatically sound passive verb phrase used to indicate that something experienced a postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability for general use. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to inform about a change in schedule or timeline. When using this phrase, ensure that the verb tense aligns with the timeline, and consider the context to choose the most appropriate synonym. Common alternatives include "was postponed" and "was held up". Remember that the correct form is always "was delayed", never "was delay".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was postponed

Replaces "delayed" with "postponed", indicating a formal rescheduling.

was held up

Uses a more informal expression meaning it was temporarily stopped or delayed.

was put off

Similar to postponed but can also imply avoidance.

experienced a delay

Changes the structure to emphasize the experience of the delay.

was rescheduled

Focuses on the act of giving something a new schedule because of a delay.

ran late

Uses a simpler phrasing to mean something did not occur on time.

was kept waiting

Shifts the focus to the entity experiencing the delay.

suffered a setback

Implies the delay had a negative impact or hindered progress.

was retarded

Uses a more technical or formal term to mean slowed down or delayed.

was deferred

Indicates something was postponed to a later time; quite formal.

FAQs

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

Use "was delayed" to indicate that something happened later than scheduled. For example, "The flight "was delayed" due to bad weather".

What's a formal synonym for "was delayed"?

A more formal alternative to "was delayed" is "was postponed", which suggests a deliberate rescheduling of an event.

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

No, "was delay" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""was delayed"", using the past participle of the verb "delay".

What's the difference between "was delayed" and "was cancelled"?

"Was delayed" means that an event happened later than expected, while "was cancelled" means the event will not happen at all.