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

In real terms, that means shorter exposure times to pull a clean image out of a faint galaxy or nebula and fewer hours standing in the cold waiting for enough photons to hit the sensor. — New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026 For now, the next few weeks are a waiting game as the little girl remains in quarantine. — Mamie Bah, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 Long waiting times and inconsistent responses reduce customer satisfaction, even when businesses have reliable support staff. — Salman Shahid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026 The devastating waiting that defines infertility is depicted amid scenes of pastoral beauty, and distance. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 Start with Moore, who has quietly become the film’s frontrunner-in-waiting. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026 White described a waiting area with two conference rooms where an immigration judge and an attorney representing the Homeland Security Department were appearing remotely. — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 The stoppage is causing longer vessel and truck waiting times, according to the Port of Rotterdam Authority. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026 The piece was based on a recent study from UCLA that found that waiting times for surgery for nonmetastatic breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, gastric and esophageal cancer have lengthened across the board over the last 10 years or so. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis exploited them in their April 2023 meeting, blocking a couple of early left hooks in the Las Vegas fight and waiting for his opportunity. — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The soldiers and settlers can be relied upon to stifle joy, waiting at the olive harvests, along the coasts, and at checkpoints where women are forced to give birth on the sides of the road. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026 Lux is drawn back to the old pictures and voice notes on his phone, while Mille stares at the WhatsApp chat with her sister as if waiting for a response. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026 Imagine Bret’s surprise to find Robert waiting for him on his bed, having been questioned again thanks to Bret’s accusations. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 Hurtado moved toward the staircase, while a friend told the security guard that Hurtado was waiting for his wife and the group was preparing to leave the club, the lawsuit said. — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026 Gearheads had been waiting for the ‘Vette to go mid-engined for decades, and finally, Chevy obliged. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026 For Bormann, Canyon’s ASPCA Dog of the Year honor is also a chance to celebrate other shelter dogs whose potential may simply be waiting to be discovered. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Add the eggs one at a time on medium speed, waiting until each is incorporated into the batter and scraping down the bowl before adding the next. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting

Noun

That reduced security screening to a single line with long delays.

— GENE JOHNSON, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
This week was not the first time Arsenal have experienced severe delays before a European away game.

— Art de Roché, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

Depending on the balance between the reward for staying silent (cooperating) and betrayal, the game stabilizes with everyone betraying everyone.

— Chris Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Joey King got one of the boxes, but the Kimmel family’s ears will be staying clean for a while.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of staying

Verb

For the next few minutes, the courtroom was silent, the gallery seemingly resigned to the conclusion and gravely awaiting the jury’s entrance so the judge could formally declare the mistrial.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
After being indicted on wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud charges, Bedi was ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state while awaiting court proceedings, according to the FBI.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of awaiting

Noun

Likewise, when a veteran employee expresses hesitation about a new operational structure, do not label them as resistant to change.

— Kent Ingle, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
For many people, the hesitation around getting hearing aids is attached to cost and how to manage the upfront amount.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Verb

Still, there was a cloud of public doubt lingering over the event.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
For evening observers, this apparition has been more frustrating than triumphant, with Venus lingering low in the glow of twilight instead of climbing into a commanding position.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of lingering

Noun

They are forced to confront their indecision about becoming parents when their divorced friend (Kate Berlant) and her daughter move in with them.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
True commitment allows strategies to develop and succeed, as indecision hinders progress.

— Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of indecision

Verb

The remaining borrowings are much less strategic and, in effect, are a hangover of the awful financial position the club found itself in a few years ago.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
American anti-immigrant politics consequently differs from the European version, remaining more closely bound to the Monroe Doctrine and its vision of hemispheric control.

— Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026