as in stays
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 delays
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there was a long wait for the manager to come and help us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of waits
Noe Padilla, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 12 June 2026
In this environment, a system that waits for employees to ask for help is increasingly misaligned with reality.
—Stephen Sokoler, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
How foreign fans and a throng of international media will reflect on Kansas City as a result waits to be seen.
—Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
Dennis waits until Mallory leaves to go on a bike ride, and then attacks her on the path.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
In a traditional corporate venture capital arrangement, a company writes a check, takes a board seat, and waits — sometimes years — for a return.
—Serguei Netessine, Fortune, 28 May 2026
The world waits for a compelling example of humanoid robots saving a customer money in a defensible way.
—Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Compiled annually by a group led by Franklin Leonard, a recipient of a Gotham tribute award this year, Variety waits with childlike anticipation each year to see which scripts film executives have really been buzzing over — but haven’t had the budget or the chutzpah to put into production just yet.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024
Cathryn Nacario, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Ryerson and Norway aren’t the only ones who will see their long waits end when the largest, most complex World Cup in history kicks off Thursday in Mexico City.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Fox News Digital was among the media pool waiting around MSG, and can confirm the waits will likely be long with the enhanced security that involves Secret Service, TSA and likely more when fans will be allowed in the building.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
Make a reservation for dinner—waits can be long during the high summer season.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026
Visitors can make a free same-day reservation for shorter entry waits or wait in a typically longer standby line.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Unsurprisingly, sci-fi and fantasy titles that require considerable VFX work tend to be the shows that have the longest waits.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Overnight waits for emergency care The region's emergency rooms offer a stark glimpse of a healthcare system in crisis.
—Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 May 2026
All 23 are now, of course, on longer waits than Arsenal.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 May 2026
Verb
Regarding FedEx's distribution center, customers may experience a slight delay with mail and packages at the facility due to the fire disruption, as the company waits for local firefighters to ensure the area is safe, according to a statement from FedEx.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 12 June 2026
In this environment, a system that waits for employees to ask for help is increasingly misaligned with reality.
—Stephen Sokoler, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
How foreign fans and a throng of international media will reflect on Kansas City as a result waits to be seen.
—Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
Dennis waits until Mallory leaves to go on a bike ride, and then attacks her on the path.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
In a traditional corporate venture capital arrangement, a company writes a check, takes a board seat, and waits — sometimes years — for a return.
—Serguei Netessine, Fortune, 28 May 2026
The world waits for a compelling example of humanoid robots saving a customer money in a defensible way.
—Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Compiled annually by a group led by Franklin Leonard, a recipient of a Gotham tribute award this year, Variety waits with childlike anticipation each year to see which scripts film executives have really been buzzing over — but haven’t had the budget or the chutzpah to put into production just yet.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
From a clinical perspective, these shortages have real consequences — long waits, days in an emergency room waiting for a psychiatric bed to open and conditions that worsen while people fall through the cracks.
—Cathryn Nacario, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Ryerson and Norway aren’t the only ones who will see their long waits end when the largest, most complex World Cup in history kicks off Thursday in Mexico City.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Fox News Digital was among the media pool waiting around MSG, and can confirm the waits will likely be long with the enhanced security that involves Secret Service, TSA and likely more when fans will be allowed in the building.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
Make a reservation for dinner—waits can be long during the high summer season.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026
Visitors can make a free same-day reservation for shorter entry waits or wait in a typically longer standby line.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Unsurprisingly, sci-fi and fantasy titles that require considerable VFX work tend to be the shows that have the longest waits.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Overnight waits for emergency care The region's emergency rooms offer a stark glimpse of a healthcare system in crisis.
—Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 May 2026
All 23 are now, of course, on longer waits than Arsenal.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits
Verb
-
Saturday night stays mild and muggy, with lows settling into the 70s.—
Damien Lodes,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
-
If the rest of their rotation stays healthy — that’s a big if — Weathers could shift to the bullpen whenever Max Fried returns from a bone bruise.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
The decision was made due to logistical challenges and in hopes of avoiding delays that might derail the negotiation process, one source said.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Emergency officials warned residents and visitors to expect road closures and traffic delays in the area surrounding Madison Square Garden.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The decaying matter causes a stench that lingers for days.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
-
Cleaning out your fridge will remove the source of the odor, but the scent lingers.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, William increasingly embraces the role that awaits him, defining himself through initiatives such as the Earthshot Prize.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
While Combs awaits release, his attorneys continue to fight the slew of civil lawsuits against him.—
Julie Sone,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Spain remains solidly second on the international rankings.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
But for all the miles Jujubee has logged, Boston remains her stomping grounds.—
Todd Plummer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waits. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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