How to use "was delayed"

What Does "was delayed" Mean?

• The expression "was delayed" means that something or someone experienced a later start or arrival than originally planned or expected. It indicates a postponement or a setback in a schedule or timeline.
• The meaning is compositional. "Was" is the past tense of the verb "to be," and "delayed" is the past participle of the verb "delay." Together, they form the passive voice, indicating that something received the action of being delayed.
• The register is neutral. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: auxiliary verb ("was") + past participle ("delayed"). This forms the passive voice.
• Typical objects: Events, schedules, transportation (flights, trains), reports, decisions, people.
• The components cannot be separated. "Was" is an auxiliary verb necessary to form the passive voice with "delayed".
• What sounds unnatural: Using "was delaying" (implies continuous action in the past), using "is delayed" when referring to a past event, using "delayed was" (incorrect word order).

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from was delayed on Ludwig.guru.

"The hearing was delayed." — The New York Times

"That flight was delayed." — The New York Times

"Sharon was delayed." — The New York Times - Magazine

"The hospital opening was delayed several times." — The New York Times

"The game was delayed about 17 minutes." — The New York Times - Sports

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/was+delayed

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
was postponed	Implies a deliberate rescheduling to a later date.
was held up	Suggests an obstruction or impediment caused the delay.
was set back	Implies a reversal or hindrance to progress.
was put off	Similar to postponed, but can also imply reluctance.
ran late	More informal and often used for schedules or events.
fell behind schedule	More specific to project management and deadlines.
experienced a delay	More formal and descriptive.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect verb tense: Saying "was delay" instead of "was delayed." The past participle is required for the passive voice.
• Using the active voice incorrectly: Saying "The weather was delay the flight" instead of "The weather delayed the flight" (active) or "The flight was delayed by the weather" (passive).
• Learners often confuse the passive voice construction and use an incorrect verb form or tense when trying to express the same idea actively.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
was delayed	Experienced a later start or arrival than planned.	auxiliary verb + past participle (passive voice)	Neutral

FAQs

Can the parts of "was delayed" be separated, for example, by an adverb?

No, the parts of "was delayed" should generally not be separated. While adverbs can modify the action, they usually come before "was" (e.g., "It frequently was delayed") or after the entire phrase (e.g., "The flight was delayed significantly").

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What is the difference between "was delayed" and "was postponed"?

Both phrases indicate a later start or arrival, but "was postponed" implies a more deliberate and formal rescheduling. "Was delayed" can be used for unexpected setbacks, while "was postponed" suggests a conscious decision to move something to a later time.

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How can I correct the mistake of using the active voice incorrectly when I mean to say something "was delayed"?

To avoid errors with the passive voice, remember that "was delayed" means something received the action of being delayed, not that it performed the action. If you want to use the active voice, restructure the sentence: instead of "The flight was delayed," say "The storm delayed the flight."