intr.v., -rized, -riz·ing, -riz·es.

1. To act evasively in order to gain time, avoid argument, or postpone a decision: “Colonial officials . . . ordered to enforce unpopular enactments, tended to temporize, to find excuses for evasion” (J.H. Parry).
2. To engage in discussions or negotiations, especially so as to achieve a compromise or gain time.
3. To yield to current circumstances or necessities; act to suit the time.

[French temporiser, from Old French, from Medieval Latin temporizāre, to pass one's time, from Latin tempus, tempor-, time.]

temporization tem'po·ri·za'tion (-pər-ĭ-zā'shən) n.
temporizer tem'po·riz'er n.

IN BRIEF: To lengthen a discussion or process to gain time or delay.

The senator may temporize in order to delay the vote.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time
  Synonym: temporise

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Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - vinde tid, nøle, tøve, rette sig efter tid og omstændigheder

Nederlands (Dutch)
tijd proberen te winnen

Français (French)
v. intr. - atermoyer

Deutsch (German)
v. - sich nicht festlegen, hinhalten, sich vorübergehend fügen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - παρελκύω, κωλυσιεργώ, αναβάλλω, συμβιβάζομαι προσωρινά

Italiano (Italian)
temporeggiare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - contemporizar, temporizar

Русский (Russian)
тянуть время, выжидать, медлить, приспосабливаться, лавировать, ловчить, идти на компромисс

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - temporizar, contemporizar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - försöka vinna tid, dra ut på, skjuta upp

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
顺应时势, 迎合潮流, 拖延, 应付, 妥协

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 順應時勢, 迎合潮流, 拖延, 應付, 妥協

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 미봉책을 쓰다, 시간을 벌다, 타협하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - ぐずぐずする

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يساير تيار ألرأي أو ألظروف‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮דחה (פעולה), השתמט מתשובה, הרוויח זמן‬

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