wait
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.
(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.
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.
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.
wait on,
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 up,
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.
Idioms about wait
lie in wait, to wait in ambush: The army lay in wait in the forest.
wait table. table (def. 26).
Origin of wait
1synonym study For wait
usage note For wait
Other words for wait
Words that may be confused with wait
- wait , weight
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wait in a sentence
Because Medicaid is not required to cover HCBS, because a waiver is not an entitlement, there are long waits for waivers.
Medicaid Will Give You Money for At-Home Care, but You Might Wait Years | Elizabeth Picciuto | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd with each false alarm, the not-so-subtle panic continues, as Europe waits and wonders what happens next.
As the world waits to see how Scotland votes on Thursday, more than a few European regions are watching very closely indeed.
He cancels his trip, returns home, shuts all his windows and waits.
Nigeria’s Larger-Than-Life Nobel Laureate Chronicles a Fascinating Life | Chimamanda Adichie | August 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDeath waits for these things as a cement floor waits for a dropping light bulb.
American Dreams: Saul Bellow’s Masterpiece of Lamentation | Nathaniel Rich | July 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The public eye, ever watchful and timid, waits scarcely for the show of danger to take alarm and withdraw its favour.
The gentleman inclines his head lower, smiles, and waits patiently for a second or two.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuWhile he waits for the paper he kneels down and prays to God, for the sake of wife and children, to allow him to escape.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordHe was perfectly contented to bide his time, remembering that adage: "All things come to him who waits."
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn RaymondOne waits at the bottom of a field, while his partner quarters the ground with the arrowy fleetness of a swallow.
The Chequers | James Runciman
British Dictionary definitions for wait
/ (weɪt) /
(when intr, 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
(when intr, 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
the act or an instance of waiting
a period of waiting
(plural) rare 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 wait to prepare an ambush (for someone)
Origin of wait
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with wait
In addition to the idioms beginning with wait
- wait a minute
- wait and see
- wait at table
- wait for the other shoe to drop
- waiting game
- waiting in the wings
- wait on
- wait on hand and foot
- wait out
- wait up
also see:
- can't wait
- hurry up and wait
- in waiting
- lie in wait
- play a waiting game
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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