Meaning & use
without delay
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UK/wɪˈðaʊt dɪˈleɪ/
US/wɪˈðaʊt dɪˈleɪ/
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
immediately and with no waiting; as soon as possible
Grammar: Used as an adverbial phrase, often at the end of a sentence or after a verb.
Patterns
- act without delay
- contact someone without delay
- do something without delay
Please reply without delay.
The doctor said the treatment should begin without delay.
If you see any problems, report them without delay.
Common combinations
- act without delay
- We must act without delay to fix the leak.
- contact someone without delay
- Contact the office without delay if your details change.
- without further delay
- Without further delay, the judge announced the decision.
Synonyms and how they differ
- immediately
- A single adverb with the same core meaning, but it can sound more abrupt in some contexts.
- promptly
- Means quickly and without delay, but often suggests doing something at the right time rather than instantly.
- right away
- Informal and common in speech, while 'without delay' is more formal and often used in writing.
Opposites
with delay
Commonly confused: without delay or without fail?
without delay vs without fail
Means 'certainly' or 'every time', not 'immediately'. 'Without delay' is about speed; 'without fail' is about certainty.
Practice
Choose the best sentence using 'without delay'.
Choose one answer.
'Without delay' is a fixed phrase with no article. The other options add articles or plural forms that change the idiom.
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