German word

verzögern

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈtsøːgɐn/

Meaning

  • verbdelay

Example

Der starke Regen verzögert unsere Abreise.

The heavy rain is delaying our departure.

Illustration for verzögern (delay)

More examples

Die Firma verzögert die Zahlung wegen fehlender Unterlagen.

The company is delaying the payment because of missing documents.

Core concept

A queue stays stuck as its expected movement or completion is pushed farther into the future.

Common phrases

  • die Entscheidung verzögern

    delay the decision

  • eine Zahlung verzögern

    delay a payment

  • sich verzögern

    be delayed

Similar words

verspäten: Causing a person or scheduled vehicle to arrive or depart late.
verschieben: Rescheduling a planned date, time, or event for another time.
aufhalten: Briefly blocking movement and slowing further progress.
verlangsamen: Making movement or a process proceed at a lower speed.

Definition in German

etwas absichtlich oder durch Umstände später stattfinden lassen oder dessen Tempo verringern

Word origin

The prefixed formation verzögern extends zögern from hesitation to the causative idea of holding progress back or postponing an event.

Usage tips

  • Verspäten usually describes a person or scheduled vehicle being late, whereas verzögern focuses on delaying a process, event, or action.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word