WAITING Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

waiting 1 of 2

noun

as in delay

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

waiting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wait

as in staying

to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 waiting

Noun

Like the vice presidency, the LG is at its core a position of waiting, either for those instances when the top person is away or indisposed or if the time ever comes when the chief executive is unable to continue in their duties. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 In the middle of the waiting area, a young woman wearing a beige overcoat and a handsome leather backpack, looking like one of the thousands of professionals in the station, stood with Lojo’s colleagues. — Anand Giridharadas, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026 His teammates gathered around the cart to offer condolences and support before it was driven a few feet to a waiting ambulance at the base of the Coliseum tunnel. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 Upper floors will house offices and the label’s bridal business, with customers escorted inside from an outdoor waiting line. — Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 That shift catches most finance and engineering leaders off guard, because by the time the question becomes urgent, there’s already a client waiting, a deadline attached and pressure to just get something working. — Nick Chandi, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 They’re stuck in a yearslong waiting period until a backlogged court system hears their case. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026 That’s precisely what Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his replacement-in-waiting, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), would ultimately do in 2016. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2026 The exit polls set off jubilation at the Social Democrats’ election gathering, but the mood shifted to quiet waiting as the results indicated a closer race. — Kostya Manenkov, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Verb

Kindergartners are learning to ride bicycles in physical education classes rather than waiting for lessons at home. — Cheyanne Mumphrey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 Nine out of 10 queries about waiting times feature a question about the averages. — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026 The homeownership rate in the state is below the national average and Californians are waiting longer in life to purchase their first house than before. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Technology priorities can shift quickly, and waiting until a new need becomes urgent often means higher costs, rushed implementations and operational disruption. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Most self-help books say anger and grudges are self-defeating — there’s that line everybody uses that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026 While waiting for the prisoners to emerge out of the federal courthouse elevators, attorneys were seen searching online to quickly familiarize themselves with the case, which has already led to four convictions in May. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026 For public transit commuters, an e-scooter solves the first-mile/last-mile challenge, bridging the gap between home, train stations, and office doors without relying on rideshare services or waiting for connecting buses. — New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026 Stop waiting for the ninety-day window, the fresh Monday or the new-year reset. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting

Noun

This unique combination maintains all-to-all connectivity while minimizing the typical pitfalls of atom movement, including error accumulation, atom loss, and runtime delays.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Optimization requires visibility from the request through the model and down to utilization, memory pressure, network delay and storage behavior.

— Anshu Bansal, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

Upworthy Studios is launching with a goal to push beyond digital publishing and social content to new entertainment formats and partnerships that can bring the brand to new platforms, while staying true to its positive, humanity-first storytelling.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
The Disneyland Resort has announced new fitness classes across its two parks, an early morning perk for guests staying at one of its three hotels.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of staying

Verb

Araghchi said Iran is awaiting a response via the mediators before deciding its next steps.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Iza is awaiting sentencing in the Central District of California on charges of conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion.

— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of awaiting

Noun

Roosevelt is arguably the more useful example, precisely because of his hesitation, pragmatism, and self-interest.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
My hesitation in choosing him had to do with his background being political in experience, not administrative.

— Marci Woodward, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Verb

As the duo row through pitch-black darkness toward the flame, John experiences harrowing visions of his father and of his younger self, revealed to be an effect of the fear toxin lingering in the air.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Still some lingering light rain and breezy conditions across parts of the Northeast for tomorrow morning, but not a washout for most.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of lingering

Noun

Alex wants to hold on and let go at once, and her indecision spirals into a familiar yet attuned portrait of middle-age upheaval.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
Those two plays hint at indecision from LaFleur, which isn’t the most inspiring sign for this fanbase after how last season fell apart.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of indecision

Verb

The remaining eight competition titles arrive as Asian premieres.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
By remaining involved in the businesses their ancestors began, these families have preserved and expanded their wealth across multiple generations while also shaping the American business landscape.

— Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of remaining

Cite this Entry

Style

“Waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waiting. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of waiting

noun

verb

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