wait 1 of 2

verb

ˈwāt How to pronounce wait (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
If the answers are vague, perhaps the transformation should wait. — Jason Richmond, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 What if the atavism under way isn’t just a miasma of unpleasantness but a buildup of gas waiting to combust? — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
There’s no shriek of a turbofan spooling up, no shudder of a piston engine, and no wait for thrust. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2026 The upcoming season arrives four years after the show’s 2022 debut, with Carr attributing the lengthy wait to the Hollywood strikes and Pratt’s busy schedule. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
  1. stay
  2. delay
  3. linger
  4. await
  5. remain
Verb
  • These liners stay flat, unlike thinner mats that curl and tear under the high temps.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2026
  • For the safety of those who have stayed, exact numbers weren't released after the evacuation.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of stay
Noun
  • But with hundreds of thousands of ballots already returned and hundreds of thousands more moving through the mail over the weekend, the legal fight still could cause delays.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Kenya’s own top-flight football league and national teams, for instance, have been riddled with challenges ranging from leadership wrangles to payment delays.
    — Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Onshore flow lingers on Tuesday, then begins to lessen on Wednesday.
    — Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Much like on Baby Keem’s Ca$ino, another recent rap epic undone by its author’s inability to overcome lingering trauma, BigX can’t always navigate around his unnamed haters.
    — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of linger
Verb
  • At this point, both teams are just playing for bowl eligibility, with brutal November schedules awaiting each team.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026
  • One of the newspaper’s leading journalists, Oleg Roldugin, has been awaiting trial and the newspaper’s offices have been searched.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of await
Verb
  • Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, remains in charge.
    — CARA ANNA, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Seniors need clear assurances that their prescriptions will remain available, their delivery options will continue, and their care will not be interrupted.
    — L. Prather McKinnon, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of remain

Phrases Containing wait

Browse Nearby Words

waists
wait
waited
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Cite this Entry

“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wait

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