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

That shift catches most finance and engineering leaders off guard, because by the time the question becomes urgent, there’s already a client waiting, a deadline attached and pressure to just get something working. — Nick Chandi, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 They’re stuck in a yearslong waiting period until a backlogged court system hears their case. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026 That’s precisely what Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his replacement-in-waiting, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), would ultimately do in 2016. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2026 Most plans impose a 30-day waiting period before the first claim is eligible — which reinforces the principle of securing coverage proactively, before exposure materializes. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026 The exit polls set off jubilation at the Social Democrats’ election gathering, but the mood shifted to quiet waiting as the results indicated a closer race. — Kostya Manenkov, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2026 But faster measurements could shorten these waiting periods, potentially increase efficiency and reduce costs. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026 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 After months of waiting, Vynatheya chose to homeschool her older daughter and toddler while caring for her baby at home. — Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

Maud Ogilvie smiled amiably at Flynn, as if waiting for a challenge. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 There is a lineup of countries waiting to get in, with nine countries currently recognized as candidates for EU membership. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026 But there is nonetheless angst from fans about waiting this whole time simply to name an interim GM. — Max Bultman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 In today’s sports culture, the women on the sidelines aren’t waiting to be seen. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026 The company is waiting to get a permit from the city to start taking customers to and from the San Diego International Airport. — Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Alpha Three is waiting for Alpha Six (Riley Keogh), who suddenly materializes out of nowhere, dressed in an identical leather jacket, jeans and boots combo. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026 There may never be a goldmine of job-ready candidates waiting to be found. — Matthew Darienzo, Forbes.com, 14 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting

Noun

Patience is the ability to remain calm and accept delays, difficulties, or annoyance without complaining or becoming angry.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
But last year, there were 71,500 school bus delays, with nearly 100 families filing complaints each day, according to Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn), whose office drafted a recent bill on the issue.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

The suspects who remained in Haiti awaiting trial included 17 Colombian soldiers and Joseph Badio, a former Haiti Ministry of Justice employee who was part of an anti-corruption unit.

— EVENS SANON, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
The pool covers events that are widely open to the press and is in more limited spaces like awaiting the president underneath the wing of Air Force One and travelling with him aboard the plane.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of awaiting

Noun

The front end simply carves into turns with the slightest shift of body position, leaning over willingly enough to eliminate conscious thought and hesitation right out of the gate.

— Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026
By the end of the day, Gallagher was hooked on the game, in part thanks to a coach who likely sensed his hesitation and put him straight to work.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Verb

But now there’s the lingering unknown amid a fight that can feel endless.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
The film’s cast is mostly made up of tribal non-actors, but Anghlong Konyak is its captivating center, as a man whose stubbornness against change sits alongside a lingering grief over his fading way of life.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of lingering

Noun

Alex wants to hold on and let go at once, and her indecision spirals into a familiar yet attuned portrait of middle-age upheaval.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
Those two plays hint at indecision from LaFleur, which isn’t the most inspiring sign for this fanbase after how last season fell apart.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of indecision

Verb

The shift of money does not eliminate foreign military financing for Tunisia, Iraq, North Macedonia or Slovakia, although the exact amount remaining for those countries was not immediately clear.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
The last of Lila and Amisha’s henchmen has fled with the remaining supply of poison aerosol, intending to detonate it, on Amisha’s orders, at a nightclub.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026