Temporize

Pronunciation: /ˈtɛmpəˌraɪz/

Definitions of temporize

verb to avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time

Example Sentences

A1 She didn't want to make a decision, so she tried to temporize by asking for more time.

A2 The politician tried to temporize on the issue by giving vague answers during the interview.

B1 In negotiations, it is common for parties to temporize in order to reach a compromise.

B2 The CEO was criticized for temporizing instead of taking decisive action during the crisis.

C1 The diplomat's ability to temporize and find common ground between conflicting parties was praised.

C2 The professor's tendency to temporize and consider all perspectives before making a decision was seen as a strength in academia.

Examples of temporize in a Sentence

formal The politician tried to temporize during the debate to avoid committing to a definite stance.

informal Don't temporize with me, just tell me the truth.

slang Stop temporizing and make a decision already!

figurative Sometimes it's better to temporize and wait for the right moment to act.

Grammatical Forms of temporize

• past tense: temporized
• plural: temporize
• comparative: more temporizing
• superlative: most temporizing
• present tense: temporizes
• future tense: will temporize
• perfect tense: has temporized
• continuous tense: is temporizing
• singular: temporizes
• positive degree: temporize
• infinitive: to temporize
• gerund: temporizing
• participle: temporized

Origin and Evolution of temporize

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'temporize' originated from the Latin word 'temporizare', which means 'to delay'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'temporize' has come to mean to act evasively or to stall for time in order to avoid making a decision or taking action.