Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Temporize

//ˈtɛmpəɹaɪz// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes so that a compromise can be reached or simply to make a conversation more temperate; to stall for time. British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive

    "“There are more answers to that than you may think,” Chih temporized, because there were, but they could see that there was only one answer that really mattered to tigers."

  2. 2
    draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time wordnet
  3. 3
    To discuss, to negotiate; to reach a compromise. British, English, Oxford, US, broadly, intransitive

    "The Dolphin is too wilfull oppoſite, / And will not temporize with my intreaties: / He flatly ſaies, heell not lay downe his Armes."

  4. 4
    To apply a temporary piece of dental work that will later be removed. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive

    "This is especially true when we're faced with temporizing a patient who will ultimately receive veneer restorations."

  5. 5
    To comply with the occasion or time; to humour, or yield to, current circumstances or opinion; also, to trim (“fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each”). British, English, Oxford, US, archaic, intransitive

    "Yet ſeeking at the firſt to temporize, / She tries if that ſome ſhort impriſonment / would calme their heat; when that would not ſuffize, / Then to exile him ſhee muſt needes conſent: [...]"

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    To delay, especially until a more favourable time; to procrastinate. British, English, Oxford, US, intransitive, obsolete

    "Pedro. Nay, if Cupid haue not ſpent all his quiuer in Venice, thou wilt quake for this ſhortly. / Bened[ick]. I looke for an earthquake too then. / Pedro. Well, you will temporize with the howres, [...]"

  2. 7
    To take temporary measures or actions to manage a situation without providing a definitive or permanent solution. British, English, Oxford, US, transitive

Etymology

From Middle French temporiser (“to wait one's time, temporize”) + English -ize (suffix forming verbs). Temporiser is derived from Medieval Latin temporizāre, from Latin temporāre (“to delay, put off”) + -izāre (suffix forming the present active infinitive of verbs). Temporāre is derived from tempor-, the inflected stem of tempus (“age, time, period; season of the year; due, opportune, or proper time”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *temp-, *ten- (“to extend, stretch (in the sense of a stretch of time)”), or *temh₁- (“to cut (in the sense of a section of time)”)) + -āre. Compare temporalize.

See also for "temporize"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: temporize