WAITS Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

waits 1 of 2

verb

Definition of waits next

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

And watch SpaceX lift off to meet its maker, as Elon waits, already in orbit around his own head. —

Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 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, 20 Feb. 2026 Montverde plays the ball around the perimeter with short passes and waits for openings. —

Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026 While the storefront is minimal, save for a bright red front door, what waits inside is exceptional. —

Emma Simard, Saveur, 4 Feb. 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 Hypnotized by the American Dream, Luke struggles to recognize the futility of a system that moves fast and waits for no one. —

Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024 The catching situation remains in flux as the club waits to see how Hunter Goodman and Drew Romo develop. —

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2024

Noun

Back on opening day of the ride, all went well for a couple of hours, then stoppages led to 300-minute waits. —

Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026 But on Monday, attendance was strong, with the NPS reporting overflowing parking lots and long waits for shuttle services. —

Danielle Kaeding, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026 This could mean delays in providing financial assistance and long waits for response work. —

Mathew Miranda february 13, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026 Even if the teams stream onto the field before the clock runs out, the confetti waits until the timer shows the game is officially over. —

Donna Gordon Blankinship, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026 New biometric border control systems in Europe are causing multi-hour waits at airports. —

Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 8 Feb. 2026 Under the direction of Shane Strum, interim CEO of South Broward’s Memorial Healthcare System and CEO of Broward Health in the county’s north region, the districts promised better health care access, more consumer choice and shorter waits for appointments. —

Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026 Even if the teams stream onto the field before the clock runs out, the confetti waits until the timer shows the game is officially over. —

Donna Gordon Blankinship, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026 Navigating rigid work schedules, complex appointment systems, and long waits at the doctor’s office offers a whole other set of issues. —

Dan Amos, Time, 4 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits

Verb

Almost every Monday afternoon, Reiss e-mails the list about that week’s select titles, and since roughly a thousand of the recipients are regular buyers, many of them respond right away, and Reiss stays at the store until nine or ten at night handling their orders.

— Casey Cep, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Public safety is best served when the Sheriff’s Office stays focused on its mission, respects constitutional rights, and operates with clarity rather than confusion or politics.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026