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
Edgewater players waited for a new coach to be hired and have rallied around Browning. Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025 Along the summer trail, ticks dangle from blades of grass, sticking their legs out and waiting for a passing mammal. Aaron Bolton, NPR, 20 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
  • Aston Villa Supporters’ Trust also asked for the club to freeze prices, in line with some other top-flight clubs, such as Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City, who belatedly announced costs would be staying the same following supporter protests.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Any delay in treatment could put the patient at risk of a flare-up or lead to the formation of antibodies that make future infusions less effective.
    Samuel Ganz, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The manager keeps coming up with new delays and excuses why this basic amenity has been ignored.
    Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 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
  • 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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