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
-
The debris shifts around it, but the robot stays upright and continues without hesitation.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Every dollar donated to the Del Oro Division, covering Northern California, stays local, funding year-round programs.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
More delays are planned for Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park Season 27 after two breaks in the first three weeks.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
The right of first refusal was implemented in March after delays.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Wood burning fire pits create smoke that lingers on the clothes and in the hair, which isn’t always pleasant.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
The decaying matter causes a stench that lingers for days.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
He is being held in Stanislaus County Jail on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy and awaits extradition to Sutter County Jail in Yuba City.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
12 Dec. 2025
-
For a completely different kind of holiday experience, Bardstown's most atmospheric ride awaits aboard the North Pole Express on the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Dec. 2025
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 18 Jun. 2026.
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