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

Historically, midterm years see weaker returns, but better times await the following year , especially if there is gridlock from a divided Congress. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

With another 64 fighters still outstanding and a separate $14 billion arms package awaiting approval, the real test of Washington’s commitment will not be the arrival of two jets, but whether the rest follow. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Researchers will also determine whether the vessels came from a larger archaeological site — and if more artifacts await discovery. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Another test awaits Sunday, with Brian Flores’ blitzing Vikings defense hoping to wreak havoc on a Dolphins offense that has the second-lowest pass block win rate in football, per ESPN. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 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