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
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Recent Examples of waits
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Over the next five decades, Florentino waits for Fermina, sustaining his devotion by writing her hundreds of letters.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
As Irma, who painfully waits for news of the fate of her family, Gardner embodies the agony — her performance is a quiet, simmering slow burn that shows both despair and hope.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Everyone moves up, then stands and waits for the next surge.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Hourslong waits and flight cancellations continued at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, as the partial government shutdown and storms wreak havoc on air travel.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 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
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Every minute an infrastructure project waits — due to red tape, political wrangling, indecision, prolonged negotiations, burdensome rules, lack of funding and too few hands to move it forward — the costs go up, support softens, champions go quiet and good projects die.
—Gia Biagi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Privatized airports avoided long shutdown waits Privatizing airport security, some in the business argue, makes airport workers and travelers less vulnerable to becoming pawns in congressional fights over policy issues.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
As more Transportation Security Administration agents called out from work, there was increasing frustration for air travelers confronted by long waits at some airport security lines.
—Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The move allowed the Senate to effectively end the shutdown and leave town for its preplanned recess, while also alleviating the long waits at airports throughout the country ahead of a time of heavy travel in early April for Easter and Passover.
—Justin Papp,garrett Downs, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Plan reviews through a private provider like Inspected average 48-hour turnaround times, contrasting sharply with the months-long waits that once characterized the process of working directly with building departments.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Comfort can be hard to find in the past month, as the partial government shutdown has more and more TSA agents calling out of work, leading to long waits to get through security.
—Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
However, long waits to access shelter or see a mental health professional, along with workforce shortages, already limit access.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Over the next five decades, Florentino waits for Fermina, sustaining his devotion by writing her hundreds of letters.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
As Irma, who painfully waits for news of the fate of her family, Gardner embodies the agony — her performance is a quiet, simmering slow burn that shows both despair and hope.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Everyone moves up, then stands and waits for the next surge.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Hourslong waits and flight cancellations continued at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, as the partial government shutdown and storms wreak havoc on air travel.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 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
Noun
The dominant chick will tend to eat first while the smaller chick waits or comes up with creative ways to get their food, like walking around or waiting until the bigger chicks go into a food coma.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Every minute an infrastructure project waits — due to red tape, political wrangling, indecision, prolonged negotiations, burdensome rules, lack of funding and too few hands to move it forward — the costs go up, support softens, champions go quiet and good projects die.
—Gia Biagi, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Privatized airports avoided long shutdown waits Privatizing airport security, some in the business argue, makes airport workers and travelers less vulnerable to becoming pawns in congressional fights over policy issues.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
As more Transportation Security Administration agents called out from work, there was increasing frustration for air travelers confronted by long waits at some airport security lines.
—Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The move allowed the Senate to effectively end the shutdown and leave town for its preplanned recess, while also alleviating the long waits at airports throughout the country ahead of a time of heavy travel in early April for Easter and Passover.
—Justin Papp,garrett Downs, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Plan reviews through a private provider like Inspected average 48-hour turnaround times, contrasting sharply with the months-long waits that once characterized the process of working directly with building departments.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Comfort can be hard to find in the past month, as the partial government shutdown has more and more TSA agents calling out of work, leading to long waits to get through security.
—Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
However, long waits to access shelter or see a mental health professional, along with workforce shortages, already limit access.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits
Verb
-
But, what could impact BP’s lockout is if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed down and the price of gas stays above $4 a gallon, then BP officials may feel pressure to end the lockout and make money, Dau-Schmidt said.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Pitt stays authentic to healthcare and Pittsburgh Renewed for a third season, The Pitt focuses on emergency department doctors at Allegheny General Hospital, and as Wyle has said in the past, it's based in reality thanks to research and conversation with real-life ER professionals.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The police department, posting on the social platform X, advised travelers in the morning to avoid the area due to a police investigation and to expect delays and heavy traffic.—
Julie Walker,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
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The police department, posting on the social media site X, had urged travelers to avoid the area Saturday morning due to a police investigation and to expect delays and heavy traffic.—
Julie Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That anticipation for Season 3, premiering Sunday, still lingers for Fletcher, though it’s tempered now by doubt and distance, thanks to a four-year gap between seasons.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The active pattern lingers, with additional chances for showers and storms on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.—
Nelly Carreno,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Crew awaits trip around moon, celebrates Easter The Artemis II astronauts sent down Easter greetings as their Orion spacecraft carried them toward a pass over the moon's normally unseen far side the following day.—
Mark Osborne,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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Though several portions of the gardens are being worked on, an orchid alley that was created while the conservancy is under construction awaits visitors, as well as part of the garden’s begonia collection.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even as China remains one of Iran’s biggest diplomatic allies, President Xi Jinping’s support for the Islamic Republic is being constrained by a vast trail of Chinese capital across the Gulf.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Still, much uncertainty remains.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waits. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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