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, 8 May 2026
Stocks fell from their records Thursday after oil prices yo-yoed as Wall Street waits to see whether its hopes for a deal to end the Iran war are warranted or just wishful.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
When developing new menu items, the team waits 45 minutes before tasting them to mimic realistic delivery times.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
In our districts in suburban Cook County, a single adult waits an average of 117 days to get emergency shelter.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 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
E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Under Noem, lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration with long waits for assistance for disaster survivors, and for federal grant money to protect people across the country from floods, fires and storms.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 7 May 2026
These tools help fill a real gap left by physician shortages and long waits for specialist care.
—Sudheesha Perera, Time, 6 May 2026
In my world, the dirty plates should be cleared, but the actual washing of the dishes waits until everyone is finished.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
If the French Quarter line wraps around the block, the City Park location serves the same beignets in a calmer setting with shorter waits and a beautiful park backdrop.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026
Insurance coverage for mental illnesses further complicates the problem of consistent care because the number of visits to mental health professionals are usually limited, and there are often long waits to see providers.
—Jeffrey Freedman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
When families flocked to Yosemite National Park during their recent spring breaks, some met two-hour waits at the entrance gates.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Trends have been bucked, decades-long waits have been ended.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Apr. 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, 8 May 2026
Stocks fell from their records Thursday after oil prices yo-yoed as Wall Street waits to see whether its hopes for a deal to end the Iran war are warranted or just wishful.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
When developing new menu items, the team waits 45 minutes before tasting them to mimic realistic delivery times.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
In our districts in suburban Cook County, a single adult waits an average of 117 days to get emergency shelter.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 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
Bisignano promised to bring waits down to under ten minutes.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Under Noem, lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration with long waits for assistance for disaster survivors, and for federal grant money to protect people across the country from floods, fires and storms.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 7 May 2026
These tools help fill a real gap left by physician shortages and long waits for specialist care.
—Sudheesha Perera, Time, 6 May 2026
In my world, the dirty plates should be cleared, but the actual washing of the dishes waits until everyone is finished.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
If the French Quarter line wraps around the block, the City Park location serves the same beignets in a calmer setting with shorter waits and a beautiful park backdrop.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026
Insurance coverage for mental illnesses further complicates the problem of consistent care because the number of visits to mental health professionals are usually limited, and there are often long waits to see providers.
—Jeffrey Freedman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
When families flocked to Yosemite National Park during their recent spring breaks, some met two-hour waits at the entrance gates.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Trends have been bucked, decades-long waits have been ended.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits
Verb
-
The sharp depletion will also mean the market stays vulnerable for longer to future disruptions even after the conflict ends.—
Grant Smith,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
In many cases, scammers reach out but fail to succeed due to timing or suspicion, not because your data stays hidden.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Porter focused on cutting bureaucracy, calling for a single statewide development permit to streamline approvals and reduce delays.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
Police have asked those traveling around the area to plan for delays and try alternative routes if possible.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The night footage is especially beautiful and memorable, and the careful handling of light shapes an aesthetic that lingers well beyond the final frame.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
-
Spiking energy costs as the war in the Middle East lingers.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The Fed is expected to have a new chairman soon as former Governor Kevin Warsh awaits confirmation from the Senate.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
-
Sitting alongside Myles, we are propelled forth, out into the streets of New York, back into the past, and yet also—inevitably, inexorably—forward to the effulgent future that awaits their young writer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
First, since no one actually knows the future, guessing, speculating, or simply making things up remains the state of the art for almost everyone involved in describing it.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Lozano’s camp remains in limbo.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waits. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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