as in to stay
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wait
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Gamers looking to play the most antivipated title in years will have to wait a little longer.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2025
That wait is over now, and this film has the chance to be one of the bigger box office smashes of 2026.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wait
Verb
Planning for clinical trials, running the trials, writing up the results, and then waiting for permission to market the device can take five years.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Gamers looking to play the most antivipated title in years will have to wait a little longer.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
Though the amount Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients could be receiving for November is still up in the air, their wait for the money might be nearing an end.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2025
That wait is over now, and this film has the chance to be one of the bigger box office smashes of 2026.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
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Fearing a spike in anti-Japanese sentiment ahead of the parade, the Japanese embassy in Beijing warned its citizens to stay cautious and avoid speaking Japanese loudly in public – perhaps mindful that in recent years, there has been a spate of violent attacks against Japanese nationals in China.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
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Richards, along with two fellow runners (played by Katy O’Brian and Please Don’t Destroy’s Martin Herlihy), must avoid the surveillance state’s ever-watchful eyes, stay hidden, keep on the move.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Flyers should try to mitigate any headaches from delays and cancellations by avoiding booking flights with layovers, the non-profit US Public Interest Research Group says, and opt to make reservations directly with the airline rather than a third-party website.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Carriers are required to refund customers whose flights are canceled but not to cover costs such as food and hotels unless a delay or cancellation results from a factor within the control of the airlines, according to the Department of Transportation.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The overnight storm was likely triggered by a glancing CME arrival that combined with lingering effects from a high-speed solar wind stream, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Yet concerns also linger that the market’s gains are increasingly reliant on tech companies.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Local administrators on Sunday were awaiting further guidance from the state during the quickly evolving situation, said Janna Haynes, a county spokeswoman.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Tapachula returns to normalcy While some migrants remain in Tapachula, gone are the thousands of migrants, including entire families, sleeping on sidewalks, gathered in parks, packed in cheap hotel rooms, or lined up outside banks awaiting money transfers from relatives abroad.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For many young women, the stiletto’s discomfort is part of the appeal, offering proof that effort and glamor remain in an age of casual sneakers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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The quarterback situation remained dire.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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