waiting
Americannoun
adjective
idioms
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of waiting
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English (noun); see wait, -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
The act of standing by without acting as you anticipate a future event or time is waiting. Waiting can be agonizing, especially waiting for something vitally important, like election results — or your birthday. The word waiting is a noun used for a kind of action that's characterized by inaction or delay: "Generations of waiting produced no change in a city's discriminatory policies, so citizens planned a protest march." It's also a useful adjective, for things like waiting rooms, waiting lists, and waiting periods. In the old days the word was also used for certain servants, lords or ladies "in waiting" who waited on their employers.
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.
Throughout the trial, swarms of fans and tourists descended on the courthouse, waiting hours to try to secure a seat inside the courtroom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
Some of this has to do with the opportunities for multimedia exploitation—Netflix series waiting to be made—but an equally large part has to do with how sustained exposure can distort an author’s public profile.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
No medals: Only the Ultimate champions will receive a trophy, which will be waiting for them to collect on a plinth at the end of their event.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Surveys from market-research firm Technomic have found that consumers give Chick-fil-A top marks for service, with the southern chain staffing its drive-throughs with tablet-toting workers to help guide customers while they are waiting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
The children were all waiting in the hall, the countess too.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
