Spanish Conversation · Level 42
75 words
Spanish word
demorar
Pronunciation
IPA/demoˈɾaɾ/
Meaning
- verbbe delayed
Example
El vuelo se demoró dos horas.
The flight was delayed by two hours.
More examples
Los trámites no deben demorar tanto.
The procedures shouldn't take that long.
Core concept
A person checking a watch while standing still on a sidewalk.
Common phrases
demorar mucho
take a long time
demorar en responder
take a long time to respond
demorar la entrega
delay the delivery
Similar words
tardar: Take longer than expected to happen or be completed.
retrasar: Intentionally delay the start or progress of something.
demorarse: Take longer than expected to arrive or proceed.
aplazar: Postpone a planned event or action to a later date or time.
Definition in Spanish
Tomar más tiempo del esperado en realizar una acción o permanecer en un lugar, especialmente en la forma pronominal 'demorarse'.
Word origin
Derived from Latin mōrārī 'to delay, remain' through Old Spanish demorare, yielding demorar and the frequent reflexive form demorarse for taking more time than expected.
Usage tips
- Se demoró typically means 'he/she took longer' rather than 'was delayed by someone', so name an agent with provocar or retrasar when that meaning is intended.
Other meanings
- delayverb
- take timeverb
Opposites
- apresurarhurryverb
Related words
- demoradodelayedadjective
- demoramientodelaynoun