WAITS Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

waits 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wait

as in stays

to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly

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waits

2 of 2

noun

plural of wait

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 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 waits

Verb

The other waits six years, and by the time the slower one moves, the gap is too wide to close. — Kerry Huang, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Nick excitedly waits for him at the train station, and takes him to meet his new friends. — Barry Levitt, Time, 17 July 2026 With a catheter inserted into a vein, intravenous tubing fitted and a syringe pump loaded and primed, the subject waits as the bed retracts until his brain is centered within the great coils of an MRI machine calibrated to map altered brain states. — Charles Moss, SPIN, 16 July 2026 Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 July 2026 On the walls, a few pots hang from a copper rod, a dinner bell waits to be jingled, and an ancient clock keeps time. — Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 2 July 2026 The Real Cost of Waiting Only one in four adults who could benefit from a hearing aid has ever used one, and the average person waits nine years after a diagnosis before doing anything about it. — Allison Palmer july 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 The average person waits nine years after a diagnosis before doing anything about it, even as research ties untreated hearing loss to depression, isolation, falls and higher dementia risk. — Allison Palmer july 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Noun

Earlier this year, long elevator waits meant many collectors reached the upper floors well after the VIP opening began, leaving some exhibitors with a slower start than those surrounding the pool. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026 However, by the end of the night, the streets surrounding the Presidio and Marina neighborhoods became gridlocked as thousands of commuters attempted to leave the area, resulting in hours-long waits. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 10 July 2026 Neither has the patient whose breast cancer demands a coordinated team of surgical, radiation, and medical oncologists but waits months before that team assembles. — Christopher P. Childers, STAT, 10 July 2026 This initiative aims to reward frequent users with valuable experiences, like skipping long waits at hot spots. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Less than three years ago, revolving sushi restaurant Kura Sushi opened on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, eliciting long waits for its video game-style service. — Jenna Thompson july 8, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026 Healthcare providers are always a reliable resource for patients, but many Medicare beneficiaries face long waits for appointments with doctors. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 1 July 2026 Powell said China has such operations lined up and planned well in advance and waits for such triggering events. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 At its core, Megawheels believes that children should not be stuck on the sidelines while the outdoors waits. — New Atlas, 23 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits

Verb

Thanks to streams flowing from the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, the water stays nice and cool to help beat the summer heat.

— Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026
In Miami, the city’s Miami 21 zoning code prohibits lodging stays fewer than 30 days in multi-family residential buildings like The Club unless the building has a special Certificate of Use (CU) designating it a condo-hotel.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Definition of stays

Noun

Thunderstorms caused flight delays at New York City area airports on Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
The downpours contributed to flight delays and cancellations at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark airports on the eve of the World Cup final match in New Jersey on Sunday.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Definition of delays

Verb

For a creamier take, DedCool’s XtraMilk Eau de Parfum is a 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner that layers bergamot over soft white musk and amber for a cozy skin-like scent that lingers close to the body.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 11 July 2026
The longer uncertainty lingers, the more risk there is for stocks at a moment when the market leaders, chipmakers, are wobbling.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

Definition of lingers

Verb

But while that proposal is off the table, the specter of mining near the refuge remains.

— Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
While Kyiv has made significant progress since 2022 in defending itself against Russian missile and drone attacks, the country remains extremely vulnerable to ballistic missile strikes.

— Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026