waiting list

American  

noun

• waiting lists
  plural

1. a list of persons waiting, as for reservations, appointments, living accommodations, or admission to a school.

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waiting list British  

noun

1. a list of people waiting to obtain some object, treatment, status, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• waiting lists
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of waiting list

First recorded in 1895–1900

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waiting list

There’s a long waiting list for things like state-funded mental-health support that could help people get back to work, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

"When a property is listed to rent, there's always a long waiting list," she says.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Organizers said hundreds of names were on a waiting list for the event, highlighting the industry buzz around Venezuela's oil sector re-opening after years of state control.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

He said the waiting list for the Semi “is already pretty significant.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

But Maddie had been on the ATA’s waiting list since it was drawn up, and having Dympna on her side put her at an advantage over other applicants who might have been equally qualified.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

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Related Words

• short list
• standby

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