wait

[ weyt ]

/ weɪt /

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verb (used without object)

to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until): to wait for the bus to arrive.

(of things) to be available or in readiness: A letter is waiting for you.

to remain neglected for a time: a matter that can wait.

to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed: We waited a week and then bought the house. Your vacation will have to wait until next month.

to look forward to eagerly: I'm just waiting for the day somebody knocks him down.

verb (used with object)

to continue as one is in expectation of; await: to wait one's turn at a telephone booth.

to postpone or delay in expectation: Don't wait supper for me.

Archaic. (of things) to be in readiness for; be reserved for; await: Glory waits thee.

Archaic. to attend upon or escort, especially as a sign of respect.

noun

an act or instance of waiting or awaiting; delay; halt: a wait at the border.

a period or interval of waiting: There will be a long wait between trains.

Theater.

the time between two acts, scenes, or the like.
stage wait.

British.

waits, (formerly) a band of musicians employed by a city or town to play music in parades, for official functions, etc.
a street musician, especially a singer.
one of a band of carolers.
a piece sung by carolers, especially a Christmas carol.

Obsolete. a watchman.

Verb Phrases

wait on,

to perform the duties of an attendant or servant for.
to supply the wants of a person, as serving a meal or serving a customer in a store.
to call upon or visit (a person, especially a superior): to wait on Her Majesty at the palace.
Falconry. (of a hawk) to soar over ground until prey appears.
Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. to wait for (a person); await.
Also wait upon. to await (an event).

wait up,

to postpone going to bed to await someone's arrival.
Informal. to halt and wait for another to join one, as in running or walking: Wait up, I can't walk so fast.

Nearby words

waistcloth, waistcoat, waistcoating, waisted, waistline, wait, wait a minute, wait and see, wait at table, wait for the other shoe to drop, wait on

Idioms

lie in wait, to wait in ambush: The army lay in wait in the forest.

wait table. table(def 26).

Origin of wait

1150–1200; (v.) early Middle English waiten < Anglo-French waitier; Old French guaitier < Germanic; cognate with Old High German wahtēn to watch, derivative of wahta a watch (see wake¹); (noun) late Middle English < AF derivative of waitier

SYNONYMS FOR wait

1 await, linger, abide, delay. Wait, tarry imply pausing to linger and thereby putting off further activity until later. Wait usually implies staying for a limited time and for a definite purpose, that is, for something expected: to wait for a train. Tarry is a somewhat archaic word for wait, but it suggests lingering, perhaps aimlessly delaying, or pausing (briefly) in a journey: to tarry on the way home; to tarry overnight at an inn.

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Can be confused

wait weight

Usage note

15e, f. Sometimes considered objectionable in standard usage, the idiom wait on meaning “to wait for, to await (a person)” is largely confined to speech or written representations of speech. It is most common in the Midland and Southern United States: Let's not wait on Rachel, she's always late. Wait on or upon (an event) does not have a regional pattern and occurs in a wide variety of contexts: We will wait on (or upon ) his answer and make our decision then. The completion of the merger waits upon news of a drop in interest rates.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for lie in wait

wait

/ (weɪt) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by for, until, or to) to stay in one place or remain inactive in expectation (of something); hold oneself in readiness (for something)

to delay temporarily or be temporarily delayedthat work can wait

(when intr, usually foll by for) (of things) to be in store (for a person)success waits for you in your new job

(intr) to act as a waiter or waitress

noun

the act or an instance of waiting

a period of waiting

(plural) rare a band of musicians who go around the streets, esp at Christmas, singing and playing carols

an interlude or interval between two acts or scenes in a play, etc

lie in wait to prepare an ambush (for someone)

Word Origin for wait

C12: from Old French waitier; related to Old High German wahtēn to wake 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with lie in wait (1 of 2)

lie in wait

Remain hidden while preparing to attack, as in The opposition was quietly lying in wait for the incumbent to make his first big mistake. This expression originally alluded to physical attacks and is now often used figuratively. [Mid-1400s] Also see lay for.

Idioms and Phrases with lie in wait (2 of 2)

wait

In addition to the idioms beginning with wait

wait a minute
wait and see
wait at table
wait for the other shoe to drop
waiting game
waiting in the wings
wait on
wait on hand and foot
wait out
wait up

also see:

can't wait
hurry up and wait
in waiting
lie in wait
play a waiting game

wait

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Verb Phrases

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of wait

SYNONYMS FOR wait

Can be confused

Usage note

British Dictionary definitions for lie in wait

wait

verb

noun

Word Origin for wait

Idioms and Phrases with lie in wait (1 of 2)

lie in wait

Idioms and Phrases with lie in wait (2 of 2)

wait