wait 1 of 2

as in to stay
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly

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wait

2 of 2

noun

as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business there was a long wait for the manager to come and help us

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wait
Verb
Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control. Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2025 Political elites have been waiting for an opportunity to redraw California’s Congressional Districts to increase power for years. Suzette Valladares, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
If demand increases, more vehicles will be added to reduce wait times. Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025 The deployment is part of a long-term revamp of McDonald's locations globally, also aimed at improving wait times and increasing customer engagement. Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
  • To stay at Casa Carolina is also to support the hotel's commitment to sustainability, woven through the fabric of its operations in big ways and small.
    Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Former Angels' superstar Shohei Ohtani will take the mound for his new Los Angeles club as the Dodgers fight to stay at the top of the NL West standings.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Leading up to Whitmer's announcement, Republicans railed against Whitmer's delay in calling for a special election.
    Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • United’s outage earlier this month was resolved within a few hours and the airline implemented delays and cancellations to return operations to normal.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Debt from a 2018 restructuring lingered and mall traffic, especially in secondary locations, continued to decline.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Even as Andrew James McGann sits in jail accused of the ghastly double murder of parents on a hike at a state park in the Ozark Mountains, key questions linger about the motive.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Colbert was a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, and Paramount was awaiting approval for a massive merger before his administration's Federal Communications Commission.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Now in their 50s, the Menendez brothers await separate hearings that could determine whether they are released after decades of incarceration.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This proves how much the Fed — and, particularly, its chair — remains the nerve center of the U.S. economy and financial markets.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images Entering the 2025-26 season, that remains one of the biggest questions in the league.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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