wait

[ weyt ]

/ weɪt /

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See synonyms for: wait / waited / waiting on Thesaurus.com

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 in expectation of; await: I sat nervously on the bench, waiting my turn to audition.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR wait

1 await, linger, abide, delay.

See synonyms for wait on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about wait

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

wait table. table (def. 26).

Origin of wait

First recorded in 1150–1200; early Middle English verb waiten, from Anglo-French waitier; Old French guaitier, from Germanic; cognate with Old High German wahtēn “to watch,” derivative of wahta ”a watch” (see wake¹)

synonym study for wait

1. 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.

usage note for wait

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.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wait

wait , weight

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wait in a sentence

Virginia health officials said Wednesday that the state has abundant testing resources and that wait times have not been long, except at some large community testing events.
As holidays approach, wait times rise for coronavirus tests amid record spike in cases|Meagan Flynn, Michael Brice-Saddler, Julie Zauzmer, Rachel Chason|November 18, 2020|Washington Post
Modeling also shows how frequent, repeated antigen testing may be better at preventing outbreaks than highly sensitive PCR tests, if those tests are used infrequently and require long wait times for results.
Rapid Testing Is Less Accurate Than the Government Wants to Admit|by Lisa Song|November 16, 2020|ProPublica
The latest version of macOS is here, after a seemingly endless wait.
macOS Big Sur is now available|Brian Heater|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch
The memory of the 2019 tournament, even if the coronavirus pandemic has caused this to be the longest wait between Masters ever, isn’t distant.
At the Masters, Tiger Woods walks in two worlds: Yarn-spinning legend and defending champ|Barry Svrluga|November 11, 2020|Washington Post

For many voters stuck at home during the pandemic, the wait feels like a wrong turn into purgatory.
As Election Day drags into Election Week, the waiting is the hardest part|Marc Fisher|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
By James Joiner Thea Shaheen had waited her whole life for the body she was supposed to be in.
Six Must-Read Stories About Gay Mormon Husbands and Iranian Drug Wars|The Daily Beast|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As we waited for my plane to come in, we stayed silent for a long time.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Thea Shaheen had waited her whole life for the body she was supposed to be in.
The Insurance Company Promised a Gender Reassignment. Then They Made a Mistake.|James Joiner|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Often Mick would perch on those back stairs, perusing art books as he waited for her.
The Bookstore That Bewitched Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and Greta Garbo|Felice Picano|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Time was suspended as the world watched and waited for news about the young, brave girl from the Swat Valley.
Promoting Girls’ Education Isn’t Enough: Malala Can Do More|Paula Kweskin|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I waited three months more, in great impatience, then sent him back to the same post, to see if there might be a reply.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
In this situation we waited the motion of the enemy, without perceiving any advancement they made towards us.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
And he had waited so long for Grandfather Mole that he had begun to feel hungry again.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
Arrived at the dépôt, I discharged my porter, sat down and waited for the place to open, with ample leisure for reflection.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
She waited for the material pictures which she thought would gather and blaze before her imagination.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for 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

Other Idioms and Phrases with wait

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

OTHER WORDS FOR wait

Idioms about wait

Origin of wait

synonym study for wait

usage note for wait

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wait

Words related to wait

How to use wait in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wait

Word Origin for wait

Other Idioms and Phrases with wait