“Delay” vs. “Put Off”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “delay” and “put off”

  • The main difference between "delay" and "put off" is the intention behind them.
  • "Delay" can be either intentional and unintentional, while "put off" is always deliberate.
  • "Put off" has a more negative connotation than "delay" and suggests procrastination or avoidance.
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What is the definition of “delay” and “put off”?

Delay
  • "Delay" means to postpone or defer something to a later time or date.
  • It indicates a temporary suspension or interruption of an activity or process.
  • It can be intentional or unintentional, depending on the circumstances.
Put off
  • "Put off" means to delay or postpone something to a later time or date.
  • It implies a deliberate choice to delay or defer an activity or task.
  • It can be used to express reluctance or avoidance of a particular task or obligation.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Delay” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Delay
698,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The construction work has been delayed due to the heavy rain.
  2. Don't delay; book your tickets now before they run out.
  3. The flight got delayed by two hours.
Put off
31,300,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. We decided to put off our trip until next month.
  2. I always put off doing my taxes until the last minute.
  3. The meeting was put off until tomorrow due to the CEO's illness.
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