wait 1 of 2

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
Estimated appointment wait times at U.S. embassies worldwide currently range from days to months—a backlog of appointments or more intensive vetting could extend that. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 May 2025 Back in Lisbon, Magellan meets and marries Beatriz (Angela Azevedo), though she’s largely left to wait and wilt as her husband remains faithful above all to the waves. Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 May 2025
Noun
Interact with characters By far, Toothless is the most popular character to meet How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, but the wait can get really long because the interactions are unhurried. Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 May 2025 The enthusiasm of the Belasco crowd was none the worse for the wait. Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
  • Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm: To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2025
  • The move is a recognition by Sony that broadcast TV audiences are aging, and the studio must expand its reach to stay relevant with younger viewers.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Nola’s delay Two days ago, Aaron Nola tested his sprained right ankle for the first time since going on the injured list May 16.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • Because of the trial delays, her test date fell during the murder trial.
    Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • This dust could collide with any lingering smoke in the South this week, potentially causing unhealthy air quality and a hazy, duller sky during the day, bracketed by colorful sunrises and sunsets.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
  • That’s because there will be periods of heavy rain and a mass of lingering unstable and humid air swirling about South Florida.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Teves was seen in handcuffs being escorted by East Timor police officers to an awaiting Philippine air force plane.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
  • Chris Pratt also appears, reprising his role as James Reece ahead of The Terminal List Season 2, which is currently in production and awaiting a release date of its own.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Those that are too old or damaged from collisions or fires to ever return to city streets sometimes remain in the yard so they can be stripped for parts or used for training.
    Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
  • At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it remains undetermined.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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