tarry
gb/tˈɛɹiɚ/ us/tˈɛɹiɚ/
C1
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
literary
C1
action
1
delay leaving or linger
to stay in a place and not leave when people expect you to leave
Usage pattern:
to tarry [somewhere] / to tarry [for a while]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "tarry" in everyday spoken English where "wait" or "stay" would be more natural. In modern casual speech, "tarry" sounds formal or old-fashioned, so it is usually better to say "linger", "wait", or "stay".
Synonyms
linger (more common modern word; suggests staying longer than necessary, often because you want to)
|
delay (focuses more on being late or causing lateness, less on the idea of staying in one place)
Antonyms
depart (emphasizes leaving a place, the opposite of staying longer)
|
hurry (focuses on moving or acting quickly instead of being slow to leave)
Collocations
tarry a while
|tarry here
|tarry too long
|tarry over
|tarry in [a place]
Themes
time
|movement
|social
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We must not tarry if we hope to reach the village before dark.
- She tarried in the doorway, unsure whether to say goodbye.
- The committee tarried over the decision for several hours.
- He tarried at the station until the last train had gone.
- Do not tarry; the guests are already waiting for you.
Learner examples
- We cannot tarry; the bus is coming now.
- He tarried in the room and did not go home.
- Please do not tarry after class today.
- She tarried at the shop and came home late.
- They tarried in the park until it was dark.
Verb
archaic
C2
action
2
stay or sojourn somewhere
to stay and live in a place for a short time
Usage pattern:
to tarry in [a place] / to tarry with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is old-fashioned and mostly found in historical or religious texts. In modern English, use "stay" or "spend time" instead of "tarry" for temporary living.
Synonyms
stay (very common and neutral; does not have the old-fashioned or literary feel of "tarry")
|
sojourn (formal and literary; emphasizes a temporary stay, similar register to this sense of "tarry")
Antonyms
leave (basic opposite of remaining in a place)
|
resettle (suggests moving to live somewhere more permanently, the opposite of a brief stay)
Collocations
tarry in the city
|tarry a season
|tarry with friends
|tarry for the night
Themes
travel
|time
|social
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They tarried in the port town for the winter before sailing on.
- The travelers tarried with us for three nights and then continued their journey.
- He chose to tarry in London a little longer, hoping for news.
- We tarried there a month, enjoying the warm weather and quiet streets.
Learner examples
- We tarried in the village for one week.
- The man tarried with his sister during the holiday.
- They tarried in the small town before they moved on.
- She tarried at her aunt’s house for two nights.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
having a tar-like quality
dark, thick, and sticky like tar, or covered in tar
Usage pattern:
tarry [substance] / tarry [residue]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "tarry" with the noun "tar" or think it means "slow" because of the verb meaning. As an adjective, it only describes something that looks or feels like tar, especially in technical or medical contexts.
Synonyms
tar-like (more transparent descriptive phrase; used especially in technical or everyday explanations)
|
pitchy (literary/technical; also refers to dark, sticky material like tar or pitch)
Antonyms
watery (emphasizes being thin and runny, the opposite of thick and tar-like)
|
clean (in contexts of surfaces or materials, covered with tar versus not dirty or coated)
Collocations
tarry residue
|tarry deposits
|tarry substance
|tarry stools
|tarry material
Themes
science
|materials
|medicine
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The chimney was lined with a tarry residue from years of burning wood.
- Doctors noted that the patient had black, tarry stools, which required urgent investigation.
- A thick, tarry substance leaked from the damaged pipe.
- The inside of the tank was coated in a tarry film.
Learner examples
- A dark, tarry liquid came out of the machine.
- The road workers wore gloves to touch the tarry mix.
- The pan had a tarry layer after the oil burned.
- The doctor asked about any black, tarry stools.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tarry
IPA
GB/tˈɛɹiɚ/
US/tˈɛɹiɚ/
Syllables & stress
tarry (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tarry)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: tarry
- 3rd Person Singular: tarries
- Present Participle: tarrying
- Past: tarried
Word family
Forms
tarries
verb
tarrying
verb
tarried
verb
Related words
tardy
adjective
tardiness
noun
Expressions
tarry a while
1/tˈɛɹiɚ ə wˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
literary
stay a bit longer
to stay in a place a little longer before you go
Examples
- Won't you tarry a while and have another cup of tea?
- He asked her to tarry a while by the fire before returning to her room.
tarry not
1/tˈɛɹiɚ nˈɑt/
fixed phrase
archaic
do not delay or linger
do not wait or stay; go now or act now
Examples
- "Tarry not," the messenger cried, "for the king awaits your answer."
- The inscription urged travelers, "Tarry not on this road after dark."