WAITING Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

waiting 1 of 2

noun

as in delay

Related Words

Relevance

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

The waiting game for Sicario 3 may soon be over with news Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin are set to return for the latest sequel, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 Some experts point to worsening public health since the 2008 financial crisis, citing factors such as growing obesity, long hospital waiting times, the cost-of-living crisis and other social causes. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026 Poised to play as the primary reserve to Davion Mitchell, Smith again finds himself in a waiting game. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026 Good work design therefore asks which dependencies improve the decision and which merely create waiting, meetings and escalation. — Samuel Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Like the vice presidency, the LG is at its core a position of waiting, either for those instances when the top person is away or indisposed or if the time ever comes when the chief executive is unable to continue in their duties. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 In the middle of the waiting area, a young woman wearing a beige overcoat and a handsome leather backpack, looking like one of the thousands of professionals in the station, stood with Lojo’s colleagues. — Anand Giridharadas, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026 His teammates gathered around the cart to offer condolences and support before it was driven a few feet to a waiting ambulance at the base of the Coliseum tunnel. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 Upper floors will house offices and the label’s bridal business, with customers escorted inside from an outdoor waiting line. — Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

Cityside, guests can head to the thumping heart of Austin nightlife where the Live Music Capital of the World always has a new favorite act and dance floor to cut up waiting just around the corner. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Expect the usual book-length liner notes typical to everything Feldman oversees, which are just part of what make these worth picking up in LP format for RSD and not waiting for the CD edition to follow. — Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 Samples are waiting to be analyzed in labs, and official communications from the university say that evaluation of the evidence will continue into 2027. — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026 The Mississippi State grad, 61, has definitely done his share of watching, waiting and warning us about countless, serious weather events. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 For years, Angelina Jolie has been waiting to move out of the country and travel the world. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2026 At the actual fair, recruiters may have 30 people waiting to speak with them. — John M. O'Connor, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Despite all the talk and handwringing over AI, companies, including fashion brands, are largely still waiting to see a return on all their new investment in the transformative technology. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 Nine out of 10 queries about waiting times feature a question about the averages. — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting

Noun

SpaceX launched commander Jessica Watkins and her crew for NASA after a three-week delay to fix their Dragon capsule's leaking fuel system.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
For carpenters, delays and poor weather conditions can disrupt the working hours apprentices need to complete their program, causing some to quit.

— Itzel Franco, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

Serrant noted that a handful of employees are staying back in London at a smaller office close to the brand’s Carnaby Street store.

— Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
In January 2024, while the couple were staying at an Orlando hotel, Vaccaro said Hill became violent toward her.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of staying

Noun

The recording includes hesitations and human interventions rather than presenting only the successful portions of the operation.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Others who express hesitation or opposition to bans often cite the risk of sending people who are dependent on 7-OH into withdrawal, and potentially leading them to other, more dangerous substances.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Verb

With their feelings for each other blossoming, the two go out for dinner, which is full of Rushville patrons with lingering hatred for Hal.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
But even in a crowd of MAGA-hat-toting Republican voters who took a day off school and work to attend a political rally, there was some lingering skepticism about Donalds at the top of the ticket.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of lingering

Noun

After days of indecision, NASCAR disciplined seven people who participated in the attack on young racing star Corey Heim in front of a concession stand at Martinsville Speedway shortly after the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on Saturday.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of indecision

Verb

The Hawks ruled out veteran guard CJ McCollum with a nose contusion ahead of Monday night’s game, opening the door for the rookie guard to run with the remaining available starters.

— Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Hope arose that the Daryl Powell settlement in January would lead to a quick resolution of the remaining lawsuits filed against the iconic Manhattan church.

— Luke Cyphers, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of remaining

Cite this Entry

Style

“Waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waiting. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of waiting

noun

verb

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