await

verb

ə-ˈwāt 

awaited; awaiting; awaits

transitive verb

1

a

: to wait for

We are awaiting his arrival.

await a decision

b

: to remain in abeyance until

a treaty awaiting ratification

2

: to be in store for

He wonders what awaits him next.

3

obsolete : to lie in wait for

intransitive verb

1

: to stay or be in waiting : wait

The nation awaited as Congress debated the issue.

2

: to be in store

… marched … north to civilization where fame and fortune awaited.

—Tom Marvel

3

obsolete : attend

Synonyms of await

• expect
• anticipate

Examples of await in a Sentence

A crowd of people awaited the train.

We're eagerly awaiting his arrival.

He was arrested and is now in prison awaiting trial.

Her long-awaited new novel is finally being published.

The same fate awaits us all.

Recent Examples on the Web

The final stretch crosses onto Whidbey Island via Deception Pass Bridge, where sweeping coastal views and quiet communities await. — Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026

When Mary enters the haunting, surreal spaces looking for Clark, terror awaits her. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

At the west end of the hall is the reception room — finished in red oak flooring that creaks with each step — where guests could await their host. — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Although the achievement is still awaiting formal certification, the milestone highlights the rapid evolution of high-performance drones for military applications. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French aweiter, aguaiter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + guaiter to watch — more at wait

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Rhymes for await

• abate
• airfreight
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate
• castrate

Kids Definition

await

verb

ə-ˈwāt 

1

: to wait for : expect

await a train

2

: to be ready or waiting for

a reward awaits you