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

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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

Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 11 July 2026 With a chatbot, the user types a complete thought and hits send, and waits. — Ran Inbar, Forbes.com, 10 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 Continue reading … Tune in the country waits for high-stakes rulings from the Supreme Court, including its looming birthright citizenship decision. — FOXNews.com, 26 June 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

Taking an early morning flight can minimize the risk of delays, while later flights appeal to travelers who prefer to sleep in and arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and unhurried.

— Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Vail Clark recommends borrowers start checking their options as soon as possible because processing delays are likely.

— Adriana Morga, Los Angeles Times, 10 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

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Europe’s defense industry remains fragmented and constrained by supply chains, bureaucracy, labor shortages and years of underinvestment.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Small in size but big on personality, Little Spirit remains one of Atlanta’s most consistently delightful neighborhood cocktail bars.

— Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026