Definition of await
transitive verb
1a : to wait for We are awaiting his arrival. await a decisionb : 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 forturne awaited. — Tom Marvel
3 obsolete : attend
People Are Reading
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.
Origin and Etymology of await
Middle English, from Anglo-French aweiter, aguaiter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + guaiter to watch — more at wait
First Known Use: 13th century
AWAIT Defined for English Language Learners
await
playDefinition of await for English Language Learners
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: to wait for (someone or something)
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: to be ready or waiting for (someone or something)
AWAIT Defined for Kids
await
playDefinition of await for Students
awaited
;awaiting
1 : to wait for await a train
2 : to be ready or waiting for Dinner was awaiting them on their arrival.
Learn More about await
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See words that rhyme with await Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for await Spanish Central: Translation of await Nglish: Translation of await for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of await for Arabic speakers
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