WAITING Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

waiting 1 of 2

noun

as in delay

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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

No stopping, no struggling to find a charging station, no waiting. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 If deleting your account takes an email to support, a waiting period and a follow-up, that friction is a design choice. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 After months of waiting, Nvidia's RTX Spark has officially landed. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 After several years of waiting, Ahn and Choi made a proof-of-concept video to help attract new financing. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 The platform is wheelchair accessible but does not have shelter, bathrooms, water fountains or a waiting area. — Eva Flowe october 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 And after nearly half a century of waiting, finally, a clear visual of the legendary Almaz space cannon (left), along with my circa 2016 virtual recreation. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026 There’s the plush seating area for makeup, hair, and comfortable waiting, of course, but there’s also a bathroom replete with outlets for styling tools and with multiple sinks. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026 Some experts point to worsening public health since the 2008 financial crisis, citing factors such as growing obesity, long hospital waiting times, the cost-of-living crisis and other social causes. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026

Verb

The matter was highly contentious in the community, with residents arriving at Inkster City Hall 90 minutes before the council meeting began and waiting outside to speak during public comment. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 After so much talk leading up to and coming out of the game in Melbourne, Australia, about the Los Angeles Rams waiting until late to fly there — and lost 27-7 to San Francisco — the NFL does not appear close to dictating when teams must travel. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 With more than seven million people packed into over 9,000 high-rises, efficiency is key here, and people will judge you for holding up lines, hesitating with your Octopus card, or lingering over your dim sum table while others are waiting. — Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026 But the school was so small that hundreds more kids waiting outside couldn’t get in, Jalbout said. — Edith M. Lederer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 Depending on the size and style needed, customers can sometimes find one and leave with it within a few hours instead of waiting for an order to arrive. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026 To support Constant’s production, Shopkorn approaches their relationship in a more old-school model, sending her money as a stipend instead of waiting for a sale to go through and split it 50-50 as is now the norm. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Organizations that understand this aren’t waiting for adoption to bubble up from the bottom. — Ryoji Sekido, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 Outside, a throng of revelers were waiting to navigate the same journey as Williams, McRae, and their respective entourages. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting

Noun

Musk has repeatedly treated the sports car as a lower priority than Tesla’s other projects, while also blaming supply chain shortages for earlier delays.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The freight forwarder said Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Port is congested with 10-to-12-day landside delays after cargo is discharged.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

But with two top-10 wins in seven games, a likely return to the rankings awaiting Sunday afternoon, Baugh’s message is starting to ring true.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Unlike Leti and Teresa’s visit to Normandy, there was no family history awaiting them, but Susan’s desire to go was reason enough.

— Jenn Sinrich, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of awaiting

Noun

But the earnestness of their performances, the texture of their hesitation, makes the video far more compelling than any of its deepfake counterparts.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Decker said people who are homeless can feel hesitation to come into shelter, but Open Doors has built a rapport in the neighborhood and would want to stay.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Verb

Abruptly moving on, like a magician preventing his audience from lingering on his last trick, Alex pulled out a tablet, holding it up to me.

— Andrew Lipstein, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
Also on the ground floor is Maven, serving strong espresso and nitro cold brew—plus coffee cocktails worth lingering for.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lingering

Noun

After days of indecision, NASCAR disciplined seven people who participated in the attack on young racing star Corey Heim in front of a concession stand at Martinsville Speedway shortly after the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on Saturday.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of indecision

Verb

The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group of state legislators and private-sector members, cast it as part of a growing bipartisan movement and urged the remaining states to follow.

— Lara Murray-Sterzel, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Capital One management said that headwind would roughly offset the remaining Discover synergies.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026