1. to delay making a decision or taking action in order to gain time
Usage: British spelling; American spelling is ‘temporize’
2. to act evasively or compromise in order to gain time or avoid confrontation
Usage: formal

Examples

• The government decided to temporise rather than make an immediate decision on the controversial policy.
• She temporised when asked about her future plans, saying she needed more time to think.
• The negotiators temporised for weeks, hoping the situation would improve.
• Rather than take a firm stance, the committee chose to temporise until more information became available.
• He temporised with his creditors, asking for extensions while he searched for new funding.
• The politician temporised on the issue, avoiding a direct answer to the reporter’s question.