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
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Fabiana Hernández Ortega waits for a truck delivering milk — a basic staple that has become increasingly scarce.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 5 Jan. 2026
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
The longer that Florida State waits to fire Norvell, the shorter the time the head coach has to look for a new job.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Halloween may be just barely in the rearview, but the holiday season waits for no one.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Helm waits around for the skies to clear.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Electric and natural gas companies are usually regulated by the state and can be told not to shut people off while the state waits to receive its share of the LIHEAP money, Wolfe said.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
The world waits for a compelling example of humanoid robots saving a customer money in a defensible way.
—Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Although crowding issues have improved since American Express restricted Centurion guest access, there are often still long waits.
—Lori Zaino, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Walz’s office said that could lead to longer waits for reimbursements.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
First, summertime is by far the busiest season, and because everything is cooked fresh to order, waits can sometimes be long.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
For Caribbean food, head to O’Niel Caribbean Kitchen, where treats like saltfish fritters or balchi fish balls are worth the inevitably long waits for a table.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
While Rising waits to be served a burger and fries on a disposable plate, Brady Smigiel walks toward the quad.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
For people who live in and around Tucson, flights with connections in Phoenix allow flyers access to what Sky Harbor has to offer without dealing with longer waits for check-in and security and enduring the metro area's traffic, said Austin Wright, spokesman for the Tucson Airport Authority.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The charity’s Adoptober campaign aims to encourage people to open their homes to long-stay animals, particularly large breeds like Ralph who often face longer waits for adoption.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
But Barkov will not be able to play, and now an entire nation waits with bated breath to find out if Landeskog will be available or not.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Fabiana Hernández Ortega waits for a truck delivering milk — a basic staple that has become increasingly scarce.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 5 Jan. 2026
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
The longer that Florida State waits to fire Norvell, the shorter the time the head coach has to look for a new job.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Halloween may be just barely in the rearview, but the holiday season waits for no one.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Helm waits around for the skies to clear.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Electric and natural gas companies are usually regulated by the state and can be told not to shut people off while the state waits to receive its share of the LIHEAP money, Wolfe said.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
The world waits for a compelling example of humanoid robots saving a customer money in a defensible way.
—Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport warned travelers of up to three-hour waits for security screening this week.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Although crowding issues have improved since American Express restricted Centurion guest access, there are often still long waits.
—Lori Zaino, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Walz’s office said that could lead to longer waits for reimbursements.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
First, summertime is by far the busiest season, and because everything is cooked fresh to order, waits can sometimes be long.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
For Caribbean food, head to O’Niel Caribbean Kitchen, where treats like saltfish fritters or balchi fish balls are worth the inevitably long waits for a table.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
While Rising waits to be served a burger and fries on a disposable plate, Brady Smigiel walks toward the quad.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
For people who live in and around Tucson, flights with connections in Phoenix allow flyers access to what Sky Harbor has to offer without dealing with longer waits for check-in and security and enduring the metro area's traffic, said Austin Wright, spokesman for the Tucson Airport Authority.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The charity’s Adoptober campaign aims to encourage people to open their homes to long-stay animals, particularly large breeds like Ralph who often face longer waits for adoption.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits
Verb
-
Although indoor poinsettia usually stays relatively compact, outdoor plants can grow over 10 feet tall.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, water them once a week, making sure the soil stays moist but never wet.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bayt Almocha had also been expected to open last summer, but delays pushed that plan back to March.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Covid pandemic snarled airplane assembly at both Boeing and its chief rival, Airbus, with supply chain delays and loss of experienced workers, even after the worst of the health crisis subsided.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Today the sprawling complex is a museum and visitor attraction, where a sense of unease lurks along paved tourist trails and lingers in dark corridors.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Early next week, a brief warmup returns highs to the 30s before cooler air likely lingers deeper into mid-January.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Miami now awaits the winner of Friday’s other semifinal matchup, the Peach Bowl, between Indiana and Oregon.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Altadena awaits the official cause of the Eaton fire, but survivors and plaintiff attorneys in hundreds of lawsuits point to the public utility Southern California Edison as being at fault for its equipment and mismanagement sparking the blaze in the foothills above the town.—
David Wilson,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office remains committed to seeking justice for victims and their families—no matter how much time has passed.—
Nathalie Marie Palacios,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
One year after two major wildfires tore through opposite sides of Los Angeles County, recovery for thousands of families remains far from complete.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waits. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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