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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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
But what is clear is that studios are not waiting for the debate to settle. Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026 Every day, patients die waiting. Dr. Hiroshi Sogawa, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Inside, the dining spaces are large and tables turn quickly, even with 20 parties ahead of you (about a 20-minute wait). Shindy Chen april 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026 These included the murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
  • Ruff changed goalies, made a few lineup tweaks and otherwise stayed calm.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • People stayed locked in bathroom stalls.
    Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • O'Hara said those delays in January were isolated and a direct result of Operation Metro Surge's drain on local resources.
    Conor Wight, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • That is what the delay was, technical difficulties.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But one problem is the lingering perception that blue-collar work isn’t as elite or prestigious as white-collar work.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Rain coverage will be at its peak throughout the morning, with a few lingering showers by the afternoon.
    Michael Autovino, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The facility has more than thirteen hundred inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
    Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026
  • At least 126 solar projects proposed since the beginning of 2024 are awaiting regulatory approval, according to a Grist and AP analysis of the latest information developers supplied to the Energy Information Administration.
    Ayurella Horn-Muller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Here's a breakdown of the 10 best remaining fits for Denver at their late-second-round slot Friday.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The woman used her hand to shield herself as Peavey continued to strike her with the remaining part of the brick before walking away.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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