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
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as in delay
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waiting
Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Act now, because flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Do not leave the big guy waiting, cmonnnn.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The allegiance transfer rulings were last changed by the sport’s governing body in 2018, when the minimum three-year waiting period (to compete internationally) was introduced.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
It was fed by the strategic hot take that Moscow is an ally-in-waiting for the United States against China, rather than – increasingly – an energy-producing vassal to Beijing.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
The center will feature five floors, one for cell processing, lab work and a waiting area, another for administrative work, and three for patient care.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
While not yet ready for clinical use, the experiment hints at how the technology might reduce waiting times and improve access to diagnostics.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
Gretchen got to sit in her condo waiting, waiting, waiting for a call that took 12 years to come.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
The Lebanese restaurant was a hit in the neighborhood from the outset and was perpetually packed, with crowds of people waiting for a table.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
One of Mendoza’s associates was waiting for them.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Parents lined up on a sidewalk outside Bergen Meadow Elementary, waiting to reunite with their children, exchanging hugs and quiet conversation.
—Katie Langford, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Facing right-hander Jake Woodford, Clemens worked the count hard, waiting for his pitch.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
The attackers opened fire at people waiting at a bus depot, police said, before boarding a bus to continue the attack.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
The kids with the balls spent all that time hunkered down on the stairs, laying low and waiting to be allowed back to their seats.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
The family spent the day waiting for updates as the liver was being flown in from Kansas.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
The other big news is that after years of waiting, Metroid Prime 4 will be released on December 4.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Act now, because flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Do not leave the big guy waiting, cmonnnn.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The allegiance transfer rulings were last changed by the sport’s governing body in 2018, when the minimum three-year waiting period (to compete internationally) was introduced.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
It was fed by the strategic hot take that Moscow is an ally-in-waiting for the United States against China, rather than – increasingly – an energy-producing vassal to Beijing.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
The center will feature five floors, one for cell processing, lab work and a waiting area, another for administrative work, and three for patient care.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
While not yet ready for clinical use, the experiment hints at how the technology might reduce waiting times and improve access to diagnostics.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
Gretchen got to sit in her condo waiting, waiting, waiting for a call that took 12 years to come.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
Malcolm was right there waiting for me out by the pool, with three bottles of champagne in a party cooler.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
The Lebanese restaurant was a hit in the neighborhood from the outset and was perpetually packed, with crowds of people waiting for a table.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
One of Mendoza’s associates was waiting for them.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Parents lined up on a sidewalk outside Bergen Meadow Elementary, waiting to reunite with their children, exchanging hugs and quiet conversation.
—Katie Langford, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Facing right-hander Jake Woodford, Clemens worked the count hard, waiting for his pitch.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
The attackers opened fire at people waiting at a bus depot, police said, before boarding a bus to continue the attack.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
The kids with the balls spent all that time hunkered down on the stairs, laying low and waiting to be allowed back to their seats.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
The family spent the day waiting for updates as the liver was being flown in from Kansas.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting
Verb
-
Originally a mansion built in 1881, the 14-room boutique hotel feels like staying at your eccentric friend’s country home in the best way; splashy decor and mixed prints characterize the aesthetic, and many of the pieces are handmade or one-of-a-kind.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That means staying alert to how AI systems influence our thinking and making conscious choices about when and how to engage with them.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even in areas accustomed to heavier snowfalls, accumulations in this range can result in delays, collisions and road closures if not treated promptly.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Therefore, the resulting stock drops can be viewed as buying opportunities — so long as the delays don't turn into order cancellations.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Running back Henry Rutledge is awaiting the results of an MRI for a lower-body injury after pulling himself after playing five snaps against North Carolina.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
He has been granted bail while awaiting a September 2027 trial.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination.—
Gretchen Rubin,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But for me the book was a colossal procrastination of not fully feeling the pain of the Russian invasion.—
Maria Reva
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This effortless touchpoint builds trust, catches lingering issues and creates loyal advocates who feel truly valued.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Grove Collaborative recommends starting with wipes to eliminate any lingering gunk.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And if a player is Premier League-proven, there is also less hesitation to pay big sums of money to other domestic clubs.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Now ready for pre-sale, the Sync Oven and Sync Air Fryer exemplify an idea beyond a kitchen tool, one that replaces hesitation with clarity and guesswork with certainty.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Becca Crandall and Bentley Rosser of Beck Cleaning and Organization recommend wiping down the inside and outside of your trash cans with disinfectant wipes to remove any remaining food particles.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The fragile island is one of the last remaining ecological treasures on the planet to be flipped into a resource frontier.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Olsen plays Joan’s indecision with winsome fluster, at first breathy and trembling but eventually finding her resolve.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
-
To a different namesake, all this flitting indecision might seem like disrespect.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waiting. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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