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Synonyms

waiting list

American  

noun

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

waiting list British  

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of waiting list

First recorded in 1895–1900

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.

It estimates that 578,804 individuals - around one in 10 of Scotland's population - were on at least one new outpatient, inpatient or day‑case waiting list as of 28 February.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

The waiting list for Masters tickets has been closed for decades and patron badges are passed down through families like heirlooms.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Suddenly, there was a waiting list to buy them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

"Progress has completely stalled for the longest treatment waits and the waiting list for diagnosis is the highest we've seen for over two years," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Because when I call at the designated time two hours later, I’m told there’s no job for me now, although I have made it to the waiting list.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

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.