tem·po·rize temporizes temporizing temporized in BRIT, also use temporise If you say that someone is temporizing, you mean that they keep doing unimportant things in order to delay something important such as making a decision or stating their real opinion. They are still temporizing in the face of what can only be described as a disaster `Not exactly, sir,' temporized Sloan. to delay or avoid making a decision in order to gain time
{f} fit oneself to the time constraints; put off, postpone; evade a decision, avoid an answer (also temporise)
To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes in order to reach a compromise or simply to make a conversation more temperate
draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time; "The speaker temporized in order to delay the vote