call waiting

American  

noun

1. a telephone service feature whereby a person engaged in a telephone call is notified by a tone that a second call is being made to the same number, and is able to talk to either party while keeping the other on hold.

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Example Sentences

If we were lucky, we had call waiting.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

In July, First Direct faced complaints from customers about long call waiting times.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2021

“I’d be on the phone with Orlando and have call waiting with Katy trying to call me,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2020

The advent around the same time of call waiting similarly made human agency a deciding factor in whether you were available to talk.

From Slate • Sep. 18, 2016

Kathy’s call waiting went off; she said goodbye to Zeitoun and switched over.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers