await

American  

[uh-weyt] / əˈweɪt /

verb (used with object)

• awaits,
  present (3rd person singular)
• awaited,
  past participle,  past
• awaiting
  present participle

1. to wait for; expect; look for.

   He is still awaiting an answer.

2. to be in store for; be imminent.

   A pleasant surprise awaits her in today's mail.

3. Obsolete. to lie in wait for.

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verb (used without object)

• awaits,
  present (3rd person singular)
• awaited,
  past participle,  past
• awaiting
  present participle

1. to wait, as in expectation.

await British  

/ əˈweɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to wait for; expect

2. (tr) to be in store for

3. (intr) to wait, esp with expectation

4. obsolete (tr) to wait for in order to ambush

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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

• awaiter
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• awaiting
  present
• awaited
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• await
  simple
• awaits
  simple
• have awaited
  perfect
• has awaited
  perfect
• am awaiting
  progressive
• are awaiting
  progressive
• is awaiting
  progressive
• have been awaiting
  perfect progressive
• has been awaiting
  perfect progressive

Past

• awaited
  simple
• had awaited
  perfect
• was awaiting
  progressive
• were awaiting
  progressive
• had been awaiting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will await
  simple
• will have awaited
  perfect
• will be awaiting
  progressive
• will have been awaiting
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

await awaits awaited awaiting

Lower basin states now await details on how much they may have to cut.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

"Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information."

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

He was arrested and remains in hospital while police await an update on his condition, the force added.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

There are more pressing issues that await us all.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Undaunted, Le Gentil continued on to India to await the next transit in 1769.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

In the front gardens, yellow and red roses bloom to match the houses’ exteriors; in the back, a sunny 4-foot cocktail pool with a natural limestone border awaits guests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

And as we freely use the images and texts these systems offer us, what fate awaits the difficult but rewarding self-exploration that animates artistic creation?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Some people have a better idea of what awaits them, healthwise, than others.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

Germany's world number three Zverev, who ended his wait for a first major title in Paris, awaits on Friday.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

But up there in the immensity of the Cosmos, an inescapable perspective awaits us.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Thousands of people displaced by a powerful earthquake in eastern Indonesia awaited much-needed aid on Monday as they camped out at schools, police stations and government offices, with many stuck outside.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

—Gold prices rose as traders awaited the release of key U.S. inflation data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

They hit an intraday low of $104.83 on Aug. 3, as investors awaited the company’s first earnings report.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

An announcement is awaited on plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground after a site was identified in Woolsington near Newcastle Airport.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

And there, at the top of a hill, the grandest palace of all awaited.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Around 12% of the prison population, more than 10,000 people, are foreign nationals - though only around 6,500 are eligible for deportation, government data shows, as the rest are awaiting trial or sentencing.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff; Dana Williamson, a Democratic advisor and former chief of staff to Newsom; and lobbyist Greg Campbell have all pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges and are awaiting sentencing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

According to reports, he plans to raze the other two properties—for which he paid a combined $147 million—and live in the most recent purchase while awaiting construction to be completed.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

"They're currently being tested in some brigades," said Trotsenko, who is awaiting a green light for further rollout by the General Staff.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

John Kennedy was still up, hosting guests at a late-night party and awaiting updates from Berlin.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• anticipate
• attend
• count on
• stay