wait/just a minute

idiom

informal
1
used to tell someone to wait or to stop for a brief time
"Aren't you finished yet?" "Just a minute. I'm almost done."
Wait a minute—I didn't hear you. Could you repeat what you said?
Wait just a minute, young man. Where do you think you're going?
2
used to express surprise or disbelief
Hey, wait a minute! That's not what you said yesterday!

Examples of wait/just a minute in a Sentence

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.
If the sellouts happened, maybe Major League Baseball says, ‘Hey, wait a minute! Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025 The video also showed Becerra leaning into the window of a passing car just a minute before he was shot. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The news broke just a minute before his appearance in front of reporters. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 June 2025 The Jets left Rantanen, of all people, all alone just a minute into the third period, free to attack Hellebuyck from the right wing and into the slot. Murat Ates, New York Times, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wait/just a minute

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Cite this Entry

“Wait/just a minute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wait%2Fjust%20a%20minute. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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