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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Golf fans eagerly await the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, which is less than 100 days away. Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 He was first picked up in Orange County, and then arrested and jailed for 16 days in Seminole County while awaiting a hearing for the first charge, court records show. Zoey Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2025 The world awaits a response from Iran, which has threatened retaliation over the U.S. strikes that targeted three key nuclear facilities after the U.S. joined the ongoing conflict alongside Israel. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 23 June 2025 In the second photo, Eric and Sarah stand together, embraced, awaiting the arrival of their new baby girl. Clea Haran, Parents, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for await

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of await was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Await.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/await. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

await

verb
1
: to wait for : expect
await a train
2
: to be ready or waiting for
a reward awaits you

More from Merriam-Webster on await

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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