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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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
On a recent Monday afternoon, Balcerzak and Taylor stood outside the building’s indoor swimming pool, which is drained and gray and been waiting a decade for its renovation. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026 Solorzano advises all residents who wait to cast a ballot until March 3 to check the county’s interactive map to confirm their polling location before heading out to vote. Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
The wait time can fall anywhere between six minutes and six hours. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026 Back at his home in Mazra’a, Awad’s wait for justice continues. Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
  • Valencia stayed one step ahead in the final minutes to secure the victory.
    Tony Gleason, Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The backstory The 34-year-old hotel is amid years-long renovations, ensuring this old favorite stays relevant and cool.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The agency has struggled to meet federal and state deadlines, with over one-third of cash assistance cases still facing delays as of late 2024 and throughout 2025.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Every month of permitting delays or grid interconnection backlogs is a month where investment risks flowing elsewhere.
    Stuart Loren, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Weir was right, but those tours — whether billed as the Other Ones or the Dead — were a blend of old camaraderie and lingering friction between the members.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Friday afternoon the rain will linger, but become more patchy in nature.
    Steven Sosna, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Federal officials said preliminary DNA profile results were received Saturday, and investigators are now awaiting quality control and official confirmation before uploading the DNA profile into the FBI’s national Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS.
    Michael Ruiz , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The bodies of five were located nearby and five more await identification.
    Aarón Ibarra, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales account for 75% of revenue, while the remaining 25% is generated through wholesale.
    Amy Francombe, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
  • But fans remain hopeful, especially as Team USA’s men’s hockey team — which has advanced to the knockout stage — prepares for a critical matchup today that could determine their medal chances.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on wait

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!