as in delay
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Mehdi Paryavi, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
While the Connecticut and the rest of the nation aren’t likely to see supply disruptions or long waiting lines, there will be sticker shock — and not just at the gas station.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Some comments argued for fewer restrictions, no waiting periods and sought an appeals process.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
In reality, the waiting period may already be partially completed by the time the case ends.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Residents from households without a licensed driver face a waiting game that can exclude them from whole industries.
—Brendan Hellweg, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
Bar Tako is a limited-time-only offering, so there’s no waiting until later in the year to give it a try.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Traditional infield practice, Correa said, often involves too much waiting, too much turn-taking.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
For years now, there has been a lot of waiting, guessing and surely in-house prevaricating about who will be the next James Bond.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Perhaps the first season’s misguided focus is just one more wrinkle waiting to be ironed out — an attempt to fit HBO’s edgy, contemporary brand from a creative team best suited for broad comedy.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Expansion plans include a dedicated room for sanctuary rabbits that need extra care, a medical and isolation unit, a nursery for baby rabbits, called kits, and a space for emergency intakes waiting for foster homes to become available.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
While 16 vessels are waiting for clearance or instructions on their next move, 43 already diverted to alternate ports.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
That means waiting for rates to fall before consolidating your debt could mean waiting a long time, further compounding the problem.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
And anyone planning to visit Wyandotte County Lake Park on Saturday, which marks opening day, will find a fresh stock of trout waiting for them.
—Sofi Zeman
march 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Mahlase said South Africa’s film biz, although doing lip-service to transformation and opening up the industry, often sacrifices patience and waiting to find people to show and be the change practically, for the sake of speed, efficiency and production costs.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Flowers lined the sidewalks where people waiting to enter watched a large screen playing video excerpts of Jackson's notable speeches.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
Concerns about providing sufficient future power for new centers there have led to a six-year waiting period for new projects.
—Mehdi Paryavi, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
While the Connecticut and the rest of the nation aren’t likely to see supply disruptions or long waiting lines, there will be sticker shock — and not just at the gas station.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Some comments argued for fewer restrictions, no waiting periods and sought an appeals process.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
In reality, the waiting period may already be partially completed by the time the case ends.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Residents from households without a licensed driver face a waiting game that can exclude them from whole industries.
—Brendan Hellweg, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
Bar Tako is a limited-time-only offering, so there’s no waiting until later in the year to give it a try.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Traditional infield practice, Correa said, often involves too much waiting, too much turn-taking.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
For years now, there has been a lot of waiting, guessing and surely in-house prevaricating about who will be the next James Bond.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Its still waiting to load up and head to Bangladesh.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Perhaps the first season’s misguided focus is just one more wrinkle waiting to be ironed out — an attempt to fit HBO’s edgy, contemporary brand from a creative team best suited for broad comedy.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Expansion plans include a dedicated room for sanctuary rabbits that need extra care, a medical and isolation unit, a nursery for baby rabbits, called kits, and a space for emergency intakes waiting for foster homes to become available.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
While 16 vessels are waiting for clearance or instructions on their next move, 43 already diverted to alternate ports.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
That means waiting for rates to fall before consolidating your debt could mean waiting a long time, further compounding the problem.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
And anyone planning to visit Wyandotte County Lake Park on Saturday, which marks opening day, will find a fresh stock of trout waiting for them.
—Sofi Zeman
march 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Mahlase said South Africa’s film biz, although doing lip-service to transformation and opening up the industry, often sacrifices patience and waiting to find people to show and be the change practically, for the sake of speed, efficiency and production costs.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Flowers lined the sidewalks where people waiting to enter watched a large screen playing video excerpts of Jackson's notable speeches.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting
Noun
-
This delay meant that, as guests waited for the ceremony to begin, the sun had set and candles had to be lit inside the church.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Motorists should anticipate delays, plan ahead and choose alternate routes.—
Holly Andres,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since many hotels usually have a couple pillows of different firmness levels on a bed, falling and staying asleep won’t be a fever dream no matter your sleeping position.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Last week, the council voted 9–6 to direct the city manager to study moving its emergency operations, dispatch and service call center out of City Hall while devising funding plans for repairing the aging building, staying there and relocating.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Raking and Disposing of Leaves in the Fall Any home gardener who likes indulging in procrastination will love to hear this one.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Perfectionism is just a socially acceptable form of procrastination.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On the economic data front, investors awaiting weekly jobless claims on Thursday and looking ahead to February’s nonfarm payrolls report on Friday.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Map opponents are also awaiting a ruling in a case that will decide whether the gerrymandered map, called HB 1, will be in effect for the 2026 election.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After missing his two previous attempts only seconds earlier, Dixon returned to the free-throw line without any hesitation.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In an environment dictated by speed and automation, the space for hesitation, dissent, or moral restraint may be shrinking just as quickly.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This is a day for speaking plainly and clearing up lingering misunderstandings.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Overall, industry grosses were up 8 percent from the prior week, as productions shook off lingering effects from the snowstorm and show cancellations.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cristhian Mosquera’s indecision from the young defender’s light backpass created the opportunity for Will Evans to take advantage.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Arguably the grounding piece in your living room, couch shopping naturally tends to bring out the indecision in all of us.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Oracle's earnings call came after the company reported better-than-expected results, lifted its fiscal 2027 guidance and said remaining performance obligations more than quadrupled to $553 billion from a year earlier.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The winner will serve out the remaining months of Greene's term.—
JEFF AMY AND SOPHIE BATES THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waiting. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
