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wait
[ weyt ]
verb (used without object)
- to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until ):
to wait for the bus to arrive.
Synonyms: , , ,
- (of things) to be available or in readiness:
A letter is waiting for you.
- to remain neglected for a time:
a matter that can wait.
- to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed:
We waited a week and then bought the house. Your vacation will have to wait until next month.
- to look forward to eagerly:
I'm just waiting for the day somebody knocks him down.
verb (used with object)
- to continue in expectation of; await:
I sat nervously on the bench, waiting my turn to audition.
- to postpone or delay in expectation:
Don't wait supper for me.
- Archaic. (of things) to be in readiness for; be reserved for; await:
Glory waits thee.
- Archaic. to attend upon or escort, especially as a sign of respect.
noun
- an act or instance of waiting or awaiting; delay; halt:
a wait at the border.
- a period or interval of waiting:
There will be a long wait between trains.
- Theater.
- the time between two acts, scenes, or the like.
- British.
- waits, (formerly) a band of musicians employed by a city or town to play music in parades, for official functions, etc.
- a street musician, especially a singer.
- one of a band of carolers.
- a piece sung by carolers, especially a Christmas carol.
- Obsolete. a watchman.
verb phrase
- to postpone going to bed to await someone's arrival.
- Informal. to halt and wait for another to join one, as in running or walking:
Wait up, I can't walk so fast.
- to perform the duties of an attendant or servant for.
- to supply the wants of a person, as serving a meal or serving a customer in a store.
- to call upon or visit (a person, especially a superior):
to wait on Her Majesty at the palace.
- Falconry. (of a hawk) to soar over ground until prey appears.
- Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. to wait for (a person); await.
- Also wait upon. to await (an event).
wait
/ ɱɪ /
verb
- whenintr, often foll by for, until, or to to stay in one place or remain inactive in expectation (of something); hold oneself in readiness (for something)
- to delay temporarily or be temporarily delayed
that work can wait
- whenintr, usually foll by for (of things) to be in store (for a person)
success waits for you in your new job
- intr to act as a waiter or waitress
noun
- the act or an instance of waiting
- a period of waiting
- rare.plural a band of musicians who go around the streets, esp at Christmas, singing and playing carols
- an interlude or interval between two acts or scenes in a play, etc
- lie in waitto prepare an ambush (for someone)
Usage Note
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of wait1
Idioms and Phrases
- lie in wait, to wait in ambush:
The army lay in wait in the forest.
- wait table. table ( def 26 ).
More idioms and phrases containing wait
- can't wait
- hurry up and wait
- in waiting
- lie in wait
- play a waiting game
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Long waiting times to access specialist support, especially for children and young people were highlighted during a recent consultation, which also found that those from certain economic or ethnic minority backgrounds were disadvantaged.
Almost two years after Alan was killed, his family is still waiting, if not for compensation, at least for acknowledgement from the KRG.
"I had several factories preparing to begin operations here this May. But because of the policy change, all have stopped and everyone is waiting."
Dame Andrea said she had seen people waiting three or four years to receive a diagnosis for a child, "by which time they're going into secondary education and they're way behind."
Promoters Frank Warren and Alex Krassyuk sat on the top table for around half an hour, patiently waiting for the fighters.
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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.
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