Showing results for "waiting"

• present participle of wait.

waiting

American  

[way-ting] / ˈweɪ tɪŋ /

noun

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

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adjective

1. serving or being in attendance.

   waiting man;

   waiting maid;

   waiting woman.

idioms

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

Other Word Forms

• waitingly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of waiting

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

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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

See Examples For:

waiting

“That means safe and accessible sidewalks, shaded waiting areas, reliable connections, adequate parking for residents and businesses, sufficient lighting, and clean and safe stations.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

Rob Wassell, 58, has been waiting almost two years for the lump sum from his brother's civil service pension, following his death.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

“It kind of sucks to leave a student who’s obviously still confused with stuff, but you’ve hit your five-minute limit and there’s a hundred other students” waiting.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

“Everybody’s waiting to see if these theories gain traction,” said VerGow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

I clung to him and hobbled across some tracks to where another train was waiting, engine already puffing smoke.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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Related Words

• accessible
• apt
• handy
• qualified
• ripe

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