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
George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 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
Act now, because flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
After months of waiting, the team also agreed to a deal with Aaron Rodgers.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The next phase of reintroduction was a waiting game.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Mexicans have a way of waiting that is kind of beautiful, actually.
—Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
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
As their mismatched personalities stir tension with each other — and the group — old resentments bubble up, forcing them to reckon with their relationship and the lives waiting for them back home.
—Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Only time will tell, but fans will be on the edge of their seats waiting for an update.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
On a recent morning, sweaty workers unloaded cargo boats by hand, carrying crates of beer, sacks of rice, and bags of flour on their shoulders 100 yards up the muddy riverbank to trucks waiting on the wharf.
—John Otis, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Those waiting to get into the market stand on Brother Benno’s property, not the sidewalk, while security guards patrol the area.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Chow missed the last big haboob that hit Phoenix on July 5, 2011, and had been waiting to capture one like it for over a decade.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Value Era – Value as Outcomes Today, software doesn’t just sit there waiting for humans to click.
—Chris Kent, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
In these long moments of waiting, the atmosphere is heavy and loaded.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 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
Act now, because flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
After months of waiting, the team also agreed to a deal with Aaron Rodgers.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The next phase of reintroduction was a waiting game.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Mexicans have a way of waiting that is kind of beautiful, actually.
—Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
As their mismatched personalities stir tension with each other — and the group — old resentments bubble up, forcing them to reckon with their relationship and the lives waiting for them back home.
—Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Only time will tell, but fans will be on the edge of their seats waiting for an update.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
On a recent morning, sweaty workers unloaded cargo boats by hand, carrying crates of beer, sacks of rice, and bags of flour on their shoulders 100 yards up the muddy riverbank to trucks waiting on the wharf.
—John Otis, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Those waiting to get into the market stand on Brother Benno’s property, not the sidewalk, while security guards patrol the area.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Chow missed the last big haboob that hit Phoenix on July 5, 2011, and had been waiting to capture one like it for over a decade.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Value Era – Value as Outcomes Today, software doesn’t just sit there waiting for humans to click.
—Chris Kent, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting
Verb
-
Eating kiwi before bed is the latest hack that people swear by for falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, and James Krivchenia talk about how staying messy and honest is the only path forward.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Colleyville Heritage defeated Richland 30-21 in a game halted early in the third quarter after a second lightning delay Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Fans booed the delay from the stands at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Both sides are awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court on that question.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
-
McClatchy News reached out to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office and is awaiting a response on formal charges.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
During a meeting with the head of Egyptian intelligence, some of these factions also criticized Hamas’s procrastination on reaching a cease-fire—which may account for Hamas’s immediate approval of the August 18 proposal without amendments.—
Leila Seurat,
Foreign Affairs,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Yet with so many worries lingering, even after Shi’s attempt to reassure them, confidence is as low as at any time in his nine years at the helm.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, Jennings has been dealing with a lingering calf injury that kept him out of action through preseason.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That hesitation quickly fled when the mask began to dry and tighten on the skin.—
Abby Dupes,
StyleCaster,
5 Sep. 2025
-
So is the hesitation, the concern for consequence, and the mid-match questioning of how she is supposed to play.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Edwards will have the children for the remaining 140 days.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Down four with three minutes remaining, the Cowboys began their potential game-winning drive at their own 18-yard line.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 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 11 Sep. 2025.
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