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

In response, Miller’s attorney, David Wiegert, filed a motion for a speedy trial and a motion opposing the delay, noting that Miller has been held in custody, awaiting his day in court, for nearly two years. —Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025

More coffee and sweets await, just a few doors down. —Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025

CharlotteFive reached out for additional information and was awaiting a response. —Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 22 Dec. 2025

Many of those sent to the Salvadoran prison were not in this country illegally and had applied for asylum, awaiting a decision on their applications. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 22 Dec. 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