as in delay
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as in staying
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waiting
Katie Mathews, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Feb. 2026
The film takes its name from the kurinji flower, which blooms once every 12 years in the Nilgiris mountain range, reflecting the story’s themes of waiting, endurance and change.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Adopting the dual role of leader of the resistance/opposition and Commander-in-Chief-in-waiting in Germany this weekend, Newsom’s words and meetings at the top-level annual conference follows his appearance last month at the Davos Economic Forum.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Even what seemed like major developments have sometimes fizzled out into the same waiting game.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
And like our famous one-pan pasta recipe, everything cooks together in the same pot—no waiting for water to boil or being left with a mountain of dishes to clean.
—Martha Stewart, 11 Feb. 2026
That's it—no waiting and washing out required.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
After months of waiting and a crucial meeting in New York City, the WNBA finally submitted a counterproposal for the collective bargaining agreement on Friday to the players’ union.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Quiet waiting and coordinated action One of Lamprey’s more advanced capabilities is its ability to operate cooperatively with other vehicles.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
Rather than waiting for inheritance, grandparents are spending their money now to bring multi-generational families on cruises.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Patterson never formally retired, but was merely waiting/hoping for another chance to coach.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb. 2026
The homeschooling community — including thousands of families who have brought bands of children with signs to the Capitol to protest regulation proposals in recent years — has been waiting since Mimi was found, watching for a new attempt by legislators.
—Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
Sellers report cautious buyers taking ever longer to do deals, waiting to see footage, or a finished film, before committing.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
At the same time, waiting for rates to fall further could be risky.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Six weeks earlier, Hondras was at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, for a draft party, waiting for her name to be called.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Researchers hope that the TAL system could eventually be a viable strategy for patients who are waiting for donor lungs — specifically, those with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) along with necrotizing pneumonia or septic shock.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Consistent with the rest of the hotel, the local landscape is incorporated into the design experience; there are local gems displayed in the waiting area, and the lobby has a giant window that frames a peak of the nearby Shawangunk Mountains that took my breath away.
—Katie Mathews, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Feb. 2026
The film takes its name from the kurinji flower, which blooms once every 12 years in the Nilgiris mountain range, reflecting the story’s themes of waiting, endurance and change.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Adopting the dual role of leader of the resistance/opposition and Commander-in-Chief-in-waiting in Germany this weekend, Newsom’s words and meetings at the top-level annual conference follows his appearance last month at the Davos Economic Forum.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Even what seemed like major developments have sometimes fizzled out into the same waiting game.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
And like our famous one-pan pasta recipe, everything cooks together in the same pot—no waiting for water to boil or being left with a mountain of dishes to clean.
—Martha Stewart, 11 Feb. 2026
That's it—no waiting and washing out required.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
After months of waiting and a crucial meeting in New York City, the WNBA finally submitted a counterproposal for the collective bargaining agreement on Friday to the players’ union.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Quiet waiting and coordinated action One of Lamprey’s more advanced capabilities is its ability to operate cooperatively with other vehicles.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Authorities were waiting to release the victims' names to give the families time.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
Rather than waiting for inheritance, grandparents are spending their money now to bring multi-generational families on cruises.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Patterson never formally retired, but was merely waiting/hoping for another chance to coach.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb. 2026
The homeschooling community — including thousands of families who have brought bands of children with signs to the Capitol to protest regulation proposals in recent years — has been waiting since Mimi was found, watching for a new attempt by legislators.
—Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
Sellers report cautious buyers taking ever longer to do deals, waiting to see footage, or a finished film, before committing.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
At the same time, waiting for rates to fall further could be risky.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Six weeks earlier, Hondras was at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, for a draft party, waiting for her name to be called.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Researchers hope that the TAL system could eventually be a viable strategy for patients who are waiting for donor lungs — specifically, those with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) along with necrotizing pneumonia or septic shock.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting
Noun
-
The agency has struggled to meet federal and state deadlines, with over one-third of cash assistance cases still facing delays as of late 2024 and throughout 2025.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Every month of permitting delays or grid interconnection backlogs is a month where investment risks flowing elsewhere.—
Stuart Loren,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But during a Zoom call with reporters Monday, Miller credited Codie for accepting constructive criticism from the coaches and staying prepared for his opportunity.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
-
My entire nervous system knew that staying quiet and still was the only way to stay safe.—
Sarah Hartshorne,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Perfectionism is just a socially acceptable form of procrastination.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The triple-check system helps circumvent the ‘shame’ component of procrastination, Le Cunff says.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An upcoming once-daily pill form of tirzepatide, called orforglipron, has shown promising results during clinical trials and is awaiting FDA approval.—
Nicole Hernandez,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
McKay was jailed for nearly a year awaiting trial on state charges, before a federal grand jury returned an indictment in May 2025 charging him with two methamphetamine distribution charges.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In rap’s gladiator arena, there’s no grace for hesitation, and that hesitation defined Cole’s involvement in the clash of the century.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Among those emails are unsent drafts, abandoned because of distraction or hesitation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Weir was right, but those tours — whether billed as the Other Ones or the Dead — were a blend of old camaraderie and lingering friction between the members.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Forecasters say this pattern reflects lingering La Niña influences in the Pacific and the gradual transition toward spring.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Every meeting that ends with indecision and another meeting?—
Shani Harmon,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
When a child or young adult shows signs of anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm or suicidal ideation, indecision and adult conflict can deepen the harm.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cuba does not appear to have any remaining allies willing to supply the hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of fuel needed to power the economy.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Also, don’t be fooled by the Big 12’s midpoint remaining basically unchanged.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waiting. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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