await

American  

[uh-wayt] / 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

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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

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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

"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

The Kop will be in no mood to await legal finalities or the outcome of an appeal.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

“Although new tariff challenges await in September, the August strength suggests the economy was weathering the storm better than expected in the third quarter,” Shelly Kaushik, senior economist at Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Then, in safer waters, national or third-party vessels await for ship-to-ship transfers from the convoys to then sail to the buyer’s final destinations.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026

“If your name is called you will advance to the third stage of testing, so please remain seated and await further instructions. Those whose names are not called are free to go.”

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

Gold futures slipped in rangebound trade as the market awaits Wednesday’s U.S. consumer price inflation data and its implications for Fed interest-rate policy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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

The prize that awaits is the possibility of batteries made in the US with 100% US-sourced materials.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 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

My bed awaits, the nest that it always is, but instead of throwing myself onto it, I find myself examining it.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

The sixth instalment in the flagship series has been awaited by players around the world for more than 13 years, since the release of "GTA V".

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Oil prices rose Tuesday as continued risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz kept Middle East supply concerns in focus, while investors awaited signs of diplomatic progress over the Iran conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

As investigators awaited the results of the DNA test, they gathered circumstantial evidence.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

The two US troops ejected from the damaged plane, were separated, and had to evade Iranian forces while they awaited rescue from US special forces.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Cluny the Scourge anxiously awaited the arrival of darkness.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

It is not unusual to still be awaiting the arrival of the first storm at this time of year.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Rikers, which sits on the East River between the Bronx and Queens boroughs, primarily holds people who are awaiting trial in New York, as was the case for disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

City navigated the hostile reception awaiting them at Anfield by arriving through the staff and contractors' entrance - while an inevitable febrile environment awaited them.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

However Texas’ season ends up, fans awaiting the next great Manning may have to face a somewhat duller reality.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

While in prison and awaiting judgment, Kaltenbrunner wrote a letter to his family and Bobby was affected by it.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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Related Words

• anticipate
• attend
• count on
• stay

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