wait 1 of 2

as in to stay
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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wait

2 of 2

noun

as in delay
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 wait
Verb
Estimated appointment wait times at U.S. embassies worldwide currently range from days to months—a backlog of appointments or more intensive vetting could extend that. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 May 2025 Back in Lisbon, Magellan meets and marries Beatriz (Angela Azevedo), though she’s largely left to wait and wilt as her husband remains faithful above all to the waves. Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 May 2025
Noun
Interact with characters By far, Toothless is the most popular character to meet How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, but the wait can get really long because the interactions are unhurried. Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 May 2025 The enthusiasm of the Belasco crowd was none the worse for the wait. Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
  • Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm: To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2025
  • The move is a recognition by Sony that broadcast TV audiences are aging, and the studio must expand its reach to stay relevant with younger viewers.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • After a brief rain delay in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Hurricanes again couldn’t string together any hits to cut into the Cardinals’ lead.
    Cameron Priester, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
  • Initial delays were caused by a five-year closing process, which came to an end in 2023.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s because there will be periods of heavy rain and a mass of lingering unstable and humid air swirling about South Florida.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • This dust could collide with any lingering smoke in the South this week, potentially causing unhealthy air quality and a hazy, duller sky during the day, bracketed by colorful sunrises and sunsets.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Teves was seen in handcuffs being escorted by East Timor police officers to an awaiting Philippine air force plane.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
  • Savannah got emotional outside the federal prison in Pensacola awaiting her father's release earlier in the day.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it remains undetermined.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025
  • The incident remains under investigated by Meriden Police detectives and anyone with information should contact Det.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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