DELAY

delay

postpone

stall /stɔːl/ (v):

# [intransitive] stall (on/over something): to try to avoid doing something or answering a question so that you have more time.

They are still stalling on the deal.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, stalling for time.

The opposition party was angered by the Prime Minister’s stalling tactics.

He asked them all kinds of pointless questions, stalling for time.

# [transitive] stall somebody: to make somebody wait so that you have more time to do something.

See if you can stall her while I finish searching her office.

# [transitive, intransitive] stall (something): to stop something from happening until a later date; to stop making progress.

There have been several attempts to revive the stalled peace plan.

Discussions have once again stalled.

temporize /ˈtempəraɪz/ (v):

# (British English also temporise) [intransitive] (formal) to delay making a decision or giving a definite answer, in order to gain time.

- The speaker temporized in order to delay the vote.

- A student is most likely to temporize during a class discussion in order to avoid taking an exam.

- The verb "temporize" describes stalling in order to gain time in the hopes of avoiding or preventing something. Your class might temporize so your teacher won't have time to give the pop quiz you all think she's going to give.