waiting

[wey-ting]

noun

1. a period of waiting; pause, interval, or delay.

adjective

1. serving or being in attendance.

   waiting man;

   waiting maid;

   waiting woman.

Other Word Forms

• waitingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of waiting¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English (noun); wait, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in waiting, in attendance, as upon a royal personage.

Example Sentences

That could enable growth among Article 9, or “deep green” funds, which have been waiting for more specific guidance, Garrault says.

Read more on Barron's

"We are waiting, sitting by the crossing. My son and I slept here last night, on the pavement, in the cold, waiting to go back home," he told a BBC freelancer.

Read more on BBC

But city officials said they are still waiting for most of that aid.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some states have a one-week waiting period before they begin to pay out benefits.

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The woman from seat 22D sat in her seat crying while waiting to deplane.

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Related Words

• accessible 
• apt 
• handy 
• qualified 
• ripe