waylay

verb
UK: /ˌweɪˈleɪ/
US: /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

  1. To stop someone who is going somewhere, especially to talk to them or attack them.

    1. The robbers planned to waylay the messenger.
    2. She feared that someone might waylay her on the dark walk home and steal her purse.

  2. To interrupt or accost unexpectedly.

    1. I hate when people waylay me when I'm trying to get to work.
    2. Reporters tried to waylay the celebrity as she left the restaurant, hoping for a statement.

Synonyms

intercept accost detain attack ambush

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "waylay" in English means: To stop someone who is going somewhere, especially to talk to them or attack them., To interrupt or accost unexpectedly..

The phonetic transcription of "waylay" is /ˌweɪˈleɪ/ in British English and /ˌweɪˈleɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "waylay": intercept, accost, detain, attack, ambush.

Example usage of "waylay": "The robbers planned to waylay the messenger.". More examples on the page.