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

• anticipate
• expect
• hope (for)
• watch (for)

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 deal was extended for 90 days, as the companies await regulatory approval. —Dawn Chmielewski, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

He was taken into custody Wednesday and remains in the Ocean County jail awaiting a detention hearing, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in a post on Facebook. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

While awaiting the trial, Tracey Lynch settled Jack and Sarah into their new home back in Ireland. —Maureen Maher, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2025

Outside, a pool and hammocks await, but guests can also partake in a (friendly!) game of giant Jenga, bocce ball, or cornhole. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2025

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