await
Americanverb (used with object)
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awaits,
present (3rd person singular)
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awaited,
past participle, past
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awaiting
present participle
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to wait for; expect; look for.
He is still awaiting an answer.
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to be in store for; be imminent.
A pleasant surprise awaits her in today's mail.
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Obsolete. to lie in wait for.
verb (used without object)
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awaits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
awaited,
past participle, past
-
awaiting
present participle
verb
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(tr) to wait for; expect
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(tr) to be in store for
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(intr) to wait, esp with expectation
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obsolete (tr) to wait for in order to ambush
Usage
What are other ways to say await?
To await something is to wait for it or look for it expectantly. How is await different from anticipate, hope, and expect? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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awaitsimple
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awaitssimple
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have awaitedperfect
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has awaitedperfect
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am awaitingprogressive
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are awaitingprogressive
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is awaitingprogressive
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have been awaitingperfect progressive
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has been awaitingperfect progressive
Past
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awaitedsimple
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had awaitedperfect
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was awaitingprogressive
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were awaitingprogressive
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had been awaitingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of await
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English awaiten, from Old North French awaitier (Old French aguaitier ), equivalent to a- a- 5 + waitier wait
Explanation
To await is to anticipate or look forward to something. If you're hoping to get a letter from your pen pal, you'll eagerly await the mail carrier's arrival every afternoon. When you await a phone call, you might sit by the telephone at home or keep your cell phone in your hand. A prisoner who awaits trial is biding his time until his case comes before a judge. Sometimes await implies that some particular outcome is in store for someone: "A terrible surprise awaits her, when she gets home and sees that her dog ate the sofa."
Vocabulary lists containing await
Vocabulary from Readings 4, Unit 1
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Vocabulary from Readings 4, Unit 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The holding area begins crawling with costumed characters as clowns, bloody chefs and haunted little girls await their turn in the makeup chair.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
Onlookers would bate their breaths and await his pronouncements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
City and their supporters are currently in limbo as they await the outcome of the appeal and any potential sanctions.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
"This is his land. We await him with open arms," said Melani Soto, an 18-year-old university student.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Step outside, put your shoes on, and then stand in front of your cell with your hands clasped behind your back to await instructions.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
The analyst awaits more details from 3Q earnings regarding its capex disclosure and Monee’s IPO timing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Although the Earth encounter required extensive preparation, it is relatively simple compared with what awaits Juice at Jupiter.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026
Hopefully he doesn’t snack on anything he isn’t supposed to while he awaits his big-screen return.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
But Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup squad know full well the enormity of the challenge that awaits them.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
“Whatever happens, whatever awaits us, we must return.”
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar rose as traders awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy decision on Wednesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Now comes the most awaited stock offering of the AI era.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Shyshko and Khyliuk were held alongside Hubbard as he awaited trial.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
As investigators awaited the results of the DNA test, they gathered circumstantial evidence.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
To go down into the grave, unwashed, unforgiven, was to go down into the pit forever, where terrors awaited him greater than any the earth, for all her age and groaning, had ever borne.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
All three are awaiting a security clearance from the Indian government.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Several European countries were ready to transfer Patriot interceptor missiles from their own stockpiles but were awaiting US approval, he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Fall and Maloney currently hold a temporary liquor license and are awaiting full approval in order to close escrow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
It is not unusual to still be awaiting the arrival of the first storm at this time of year.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
Sometimes the serpent would lie totally inert awaiting the unsuspecting paw that trod too close.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
