Waylay
verb
To stop or interrupt someone and detain them against their will.
The journalist was waylaid by protestors on his way to the press conference.
Often appears as...
- waylay on the way
- waylay by the protestors
verb
To attack someone by surprise.
The group of thieves waylaid the travelers in the narrow alley.
Often appears as...
- waylay in the alley
- waylay the traveler
verb
To delay or disturb someone by stopping them.
Students waylaid their professor to discuss the project after class.
Often appears as...
- waylay after class
- waylay to discuss
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To stop or interrupt someone and detain them against their will.
The journalist was waylaid by protestors on his way to the press conference.
Often appears as...
- waylay on the way
- waylay by the protestors
verb
To attack someone by surprise.
The group of thieves waylaid the travelers in the narrow alley.
Often appears as...
- waylay in the alley
- waylay the traveler
verb
To delay or disturb someone by stopping them.
Students waylaid their professor to discuss the project after class.
Often appears as...
- waylay after class
- waylay to discuss
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Waylay often implies an unwanted or negative experience for the person being detained.
Fans waylaid the singer for autographs, making her late.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Detainment
The detaining can be physical, as in being held back, but isn't always.
He was verbally waylaid by reporters outside the courthouse.
Pro Tip 3/3Unexpected Interruption
Waylay signifies an interruption that is usually unexpected.
She was waylaid by a call just as she was leaving.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Waylay often implies an unwanted or negative experience for the person being detained.
Fans waylaid the singer for autographs, making her late.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Detainment
The detaining can be physical, as in being held back, but isn't always.
He was verbally waylaid by reporters outside the courthouse.
Pro Tip 3/3Unexpected Interruption
Waylay signifies an interruption that is usually unexpected.
She was waylaid by a call just as she was leaving.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Waylay often implies an unwanted or negative experience for the person being detained.
Fans waylaid the singer for autographs, making her late.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Detainment
The detaining can be physical, as in being held back, but isn't always.
He was verbally waylaid by reporters outside the courthouse.
Pro Tip 3/3Unexpected Interruption
Waylay signifies an interruption that is usually unexpected.
She was waylaid by a call just as she was leaving.
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Video examples
Safari Live - Day 31 PIPE...
so I believe we live unfortunately my comms again are letting me down our little earpiece and so your piece thing is a bit of an issue because there's apparently a shipment that is supposed to be coming to South Africa that's been waylaid and I would imagine it's maybe
Video examples
The hilarious art of...
and threw a bucket of water at it. Presto! Then when we went to press, the printer put a spot gloss on the ink and it really looked like it was running. Not long after it came out, Augusten was waylaid in an airport and he was hiding out in the bookstore
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 31 PIPE...
so I believe we live unfortunately my comms again are letting me down our little earpiece and so your piece thing is a bit of an issue because there's apparently a shipment that is supposed to be coming to South Africa that's been waylaid and I would imagine it's maybe
Video examples
The hilarious art of...
and threw a bucket of water at it. Presto! Then when we went to press, the printer put a spot gloss on the ink and it really looked like it was running. Not long after it came out, Augusten was waylaid in an airport and he was hiding out in the bookstore
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Martin Evans
Welsh Scientist
I have always been interested - indeed, waylaid - by the leading edges of technology, even during my Ph.D. years when I pioneered (but did not publish) agarose gel electrophoresis for RNA fractionation. Also, much later, I was instrumental in showing that Green Fluorescent Protein and RNAi could be made to work in mammalian cells.
Quote examples
Elijah Parish Lovejoy
American Clergyman
If I have been guilty of no violation of law, why am I hunted up and down continually like a partridge upon the mountains? Why am I threatened with the tar barrel? Why am I waylaid every day, and from night to night, and my life in jeopardy every hour?
Quote examples
Jason Robert Brown
American Musician
When I started out, I wanted to be Billy Joel. The plan was to be a singer-songwriter of that ilk, and, then, I got waylaid - that's probably an unfair way to say it - from being a rock star by the musical theatre stuff, which I love doing.
Quote examples
Pat Travers
Canadian Musician
We got a little waylaid along the way. The whole problem started about 10 years ago with management and legal battles, then still trying to make albums while I was doing all of that.
Quote examples
Sanjaya Baru
Indian Public Servant
If wars were won by superior technology alone, the United States would not have been vanquished in Vietnam or waylaid in Afghanistan.
Quote examples
Martin Evans
Welsh Scientist
I have always been interested - indeed, waylaid - by the leading edges of technology, even during my Ph.D. years when I pioneered (but did not publish) agarose gel electrophoresis for RNA fractionation. Also, much later, I was instrumental in showing that Green Fluorescent Protein and RNAi could be made to work in mammalian cells.
Quote examples
Elijah Parish Lovejoy
American Clergyman
If I have been guilty of no violation of law, why am I hunted up and down continually like a partridge upon the mountains? Why am I threatened with the tar barrel? Why am I waylaid every day, and from night to night, and my life in jeopardy every hour?
Quote examples
Jason Robert Brown
American Musician
When I started out, I wanted to be Billy Joel. The plan was to be a singer-songwriter of that ilk, and, then, I got waylaid - that's probably an unfair way to say it - from being a rock star by the musical theatre stuff, which I love doing.
Quote examples
Pat Travers
Canadian Musician
We got a little waylaid along the way. The whole problem started about 10 years ago with management and legal battles, then still trying to make albums while I was doing all of that.
Quote examples
Sanjaya Baru
Indian Public Servant
If wars were won by superior technology alone, the United States would not have been vanquished in Vietnam or waylaid in Afghanistan.
Example 1 of 5
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