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 Port of Montreal said last Thursday that an overtime strike could mean delays in processing and a possible accumulation of containers on the ground awaiting handling. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2024

Ferguson remains jailed in lieu of $5 million bail, and is awaiting trial. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024

Secret Life of Diddy – A Special Edition of 20/20, from ABC News Studios, will feature singer, rapper and actor Ray J in an interview to address recent criminal charges brought against Diddy, who remains in jail awaiting a trial. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2024

The mogul is currently being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, awaiting trial. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 7 Oct. 2024

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

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