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
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
Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Thinking of his estranged teenage son and terminally ill mother, McKay waits and waits before answering the call.
—Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 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
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
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
Gabi locates the pay phone in question, and waits for a call.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 3 Oct. 2024
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
These fictional AIs tapped into our deepest worries about healthcare—long waits at the doctor's office, confusing medical information and the wish for constant health guidance.
—Sanath Chilakala, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Each year, tens of thousands of people must leave the desert via a two-lane road, often producing multi-hour waits.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Admission will include access (and shorter waits) for Volcano Bay’s slides, body plunges, lazy river and the Krakatau Aqua Coaster that winds through the park and its centerpiece volcano structure.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Large power transformers now face lead times ranging from 80 to 210 weeks, with some utilities confronting nearly four-year waits.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2025
There was never a shortage of food, or long waits to get your meal.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
In some locations, the waits for appointments are even longer.
—David Armstrong, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2025
Today, Joe’s draws Disney World-level crowds and hour-long waits.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Thinking of his estranged teenage son and terminally ill mother, McKay waits and waits before answering the call.
—Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 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
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
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
Gabi locates the pay phone in question, and waits for a call.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 3 Oct. 2024
Noun
The bus service’s long waits also caused crowding and loitering in the area, spokeswoman Pauline Haberman said at the time.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
These fictional AIs tapped into our deepest worries about healthcare—long waits at the doctor's office, confusing medical information and the wish for constant health guidance.
—Sanath Chilakala, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Each year, tens of thousands of people must leave the desert via a two-lane road, often producing multi-hour waits.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Admission will include access (and shorter waits) for Volcano Bay’s slides, body plunges, lazy river and the Krakatau Aqua Coaster that winds through the park and its centerpiece volcano structure.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Large power transformers now face lead times ranging from 80 to 210 weeks, with some utilities confronting nearly four-year waits.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2025
There was never a shortage of food, or long waits to get your meal.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
In some locations, the waits for appointments are even longer.
—David Armstrong, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2025
Today, Joe’s draws Disney World-level crowds and hour-long waits.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits
Verb
-
But if inflation stays elevated and the Fed holds—or lifts—rates to fight it, those future cash flows get discounted at a higher rate, shrinking today’s value.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Naturally, over-the-air updates will continue to be rolled out to ensure the EV stays at the bleeding edge.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Cowboys are no strangers to early-season weather delays in Pennsylvania.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Bieber himself was aware of the anxiety over the delays and posted a couple messages on his Instagram that there seemed to be a technical delay of some sort.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Blur left audiences stunned and speechless, a hybrid of theater and XR that lingers as memory more than story.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The tension lingers throughout the meal, leaving the family divided.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Set on a white-run construction site in West Africa, an edgy, tightly wound foreman anxiously awaits his bride.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
-
For Salvadorans and deportees alike, what awaits inside these prisons has alarmed advocates.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Thankfully for the Packers, Chicago remains in the division.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The cause of it remains under investigation.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waits. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share