wait
verb (used without object)
to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, oruntil ).
have been waiting
-
present perfect progressiveof wait.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
The complete weekend McLaren and Norris have been waiting for.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Home buyers have been waiting years for a significant decline in mortgage rates to happen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Stocks related to artificial intelligence have faced a pullback, having previously been a boon for the S&P 500 — but this could be the moment your nontechnology holdings have been waiting for.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
“I’m not saying this is groundbreaking and nothing like L.A.’s ever seen before, but I do know that there are people who have been waiting for this to happen.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
The first and second officers may have been waiting for the captain to make decisions, but still may have been unwilling to pose alternatives.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
