wait 1 of 2

Definition of waitnext
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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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
March 21 – April 19 The person waiting for your signal may need the clearest version of your idea. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026 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, 5 July 2026
Noun
After a yearlong wait for a new state budget, the North Carolina General Assembly finalized details on the $34 billion plan this week, including raises for thousands of state employees. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026 Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly then challenged the call at the plate, but that call stood after another wait of 1 minute, 34 seconds. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
  • In the sweet family snap, Mahomes posed wearing a no-fuss crossbody sling bag that’s ideal for staying hands-free — and keeping up with her and Patrick Mahomes’ three children, Sterling, Bronze, and Golden.
    Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • Swimming pools, movie theaters and shopping malls are places to stay cool.
    Bill Kelly, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • But the heat has led to cancellations and delays in several states.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The city commission reached a major step forward on the project after months of delays and disagreements over the best way to replace the old City Hall, which was damaged beyond repair by the historic flooding of April 2023.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • FireSat will help incident commanders get better information more quickly, and, unlike fire-spotting aircraft, the satellites can linger over a fire for days or weeks and aren’t hampered by high winds or smoke.
    Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The severe weather threat will linger for parts of the mid-Atlantic on Sunday, stretching from northern Virginia into southern New Jersey, with cities like Richmond, DC, Baltimore and Philly in the threat zone once again.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • The same trap awaits the doctor leaning on a model for a diagnosis, the engineer trusting it with a design, the judge consulting it on a decision, and the ordinary person asking it what to believe.
    David Siegel, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • Many were instructed to be in New York City by the morning of July 3 and await further details, sources told the outlet.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Still, the pieces of ceiling trim dedicated to the pillars of courage and trust remained missing, a nod perhaps to the traits most easily lost when disaster strikes – and most needed to rebuild.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • There’s enough cash on hand for Rhaenyra to administer the Seven Kingdoms for a fortnight, and no one remaining from the old regime — not Alicent, not Orwyle — knows where Lannister hid the rest of the ingots.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026

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“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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