wait1 verbwait2 noun
waitwait1 /weɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 
WORD ORIGINwait1
Origin:
1100-1200 Old North French waitier ‘to watch’VERB TABLE
wait
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | wait |
| he, she, it | waits | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | waited |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have waited |
| he, she, it | has waited | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had waited |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will wait |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have waited |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am waiting |
| he, she, it | is waiting | |
| you, we, they | are waiting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was waiting |
| you, we, they | were waiting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been waiting |
| he, she, it | has been waiting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been waiting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be waiting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been waiting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Have you heard about the job?" "No, I'm still waiting."
- Wait here until I get back.
- Are you waiting to use the phone?
- He waited for the applause to die down before he continued speaking.
- I'll stay here and wait for Suzie.
- I'm so sorry I kept you waiting.
- I've done as much as I can - now all I can do is wait and see what happens.
- She waited for him to reply.
- The airline industry has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the report's proposals.
- We spent almost an hour just waiting for the bus.
- Where have you been? I've been waiting since 7:00.
- You'll have to wait a few minutes - I'm not ready yet.
- After the first date he said he would phone her: she waited by the telephone until after midnight.
- Here is a soldier who was waiting, with a heavy heart, to suffer and die in battle.
- I am waiting to try it out on some one.
- People were jammed behind a metal fence, waiting for passengers coming in from abroad to emerge from Customs.
- She believed in the ship, and was waiting for it.
- Substantial supplies had to wait on the mining of reefs first found as late as 1880 outcropping on the Tawmaw plateau.
- The morning star has withdrawn behind the curtain of light to wait for its chance to shine again tomorrow.
- They were calling off their comrades who waited in ambush further ahead.
THESAURUS
to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc: · I’ll wait here while you call him.· He said he was waiting for a friend.
(also hang about British English) informal to wait in a place not doing anything, especially so that you are wasting time: · They kept us hanging around for hours at the hospital.
to wait because you are hoping that something will happen: · The captain decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.· We hung on until the very last moment.
spoken used when telling someone to wait: · Can you hang on a minute? I just want to finish this email.
to wait and be ready to do something if needed – used especially about soldiers, police, medical teams etc: · The army are standing by.· Emergency services were on standby after someone called to say there was a bomb in the city centre.
formal to wait for something – used about something that you know will happen or arrive: · I will await your reply (=in a formal letter).· In February, nearly 200,000 prisoners were awaiting trial.· The soldiers awaited the order to advance.
Longman Language Activatorto wait to spend time not doing very much, while you are expecting something to happen or expecting someone to arrive: · Wait here until I get back.· Hurry up, everyone's waiting.wait for somebody: · I'll stay here and wait for Suzie.wait for something: · We spent almost an hour just waiting for the bus.wait (for) a minute/two hours/a long time etc: · Where have you been? I've been waiting since 7:00.· You'll have to wait a few minutes - I'm not ready yet.wait to do something: · Are you waiting to use the phone?wait for somebody/something to do something: · She waited for him to reply.· He waited for the applause to die down before he continued speaking.keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, for example by arriving late): · I'm so sorry I kept you waiting.wait and see (=wait to find out what will happen): · I've done as much as I can - now all I can do is wait and see what happens.wait-and-see attitude/position/approach etc: · The airline industry has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the report's proposals.
spoken to wait, especially in a difficult situation, hoping that something good will happen: · Captain Damas decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.· We knew that if we hung on long enough, things were bound to change.
also hang about British informal informal to wait in one place without doing anything, so that you are wasting time: · Sally hung around for over an hour but no-one came.· I wish we could get on with the job. I hate all this hanging about.hang around for British: · We spent half an hour hanging about for Kerry.hang around for hours/ages etc: · We were hanging around for hours before they opened the gates.keep somebody hanging around: · We can't keep our troops hanging around forever, doing nothing.
to wait and be ready to do something if needed: · The family stood by, knowing that she might wake up any minute.stand by for: · The crew was ordered to stand by for take-off.stand by to do something: · The Foreign Minister had a helicopter standing by to whisk him to the northern city of Afula.
to wait before doing something that other people are also waiting to do, because some of them have the right to do it before you: · Everyone has to wait their turn.wait your turn to do something: · A long line of people waited their turn to shake his hand.
to wait until something has finished, especially something unpleasant or boring: sit it out: · If the plane's late, there's nothing we can do except sit it out.sit something out: · Tony forced himself to sit the play out.sit out something: · Like many people in the community, we sat out the storm at home, hoping no disasters would occur.
formal to wait for something: · The committee is awaiting a decision from head office before it takes any action.· Two men have been charged with murder and are now in prison awaiting trial.
used to describe things that you have waited for for a long time: · The next morning we received the long-awaited order to attack.· It is hoped that these measures will trigger the long-awaited upturn in the economy.
what you say to tell someone to wait · Wait, I have a better idea.· Wait! We haven't talked to Vicky yet.wait a minute/moment/second etc · Wait a minute. I forgot to turn off the lights.· Wait a second, don't rush off!
say this when you want someone to wait a short time: · Just a minute, I'm almost ready.· Just a second, let me just check I've got my keys with me.
also hang on especially British use this to tell someone to wait for a short time: · Hold on - I haven't finished yet.hold on a minute/moment/second etc: · Hang on a minute while I find her phone number.
use this to tell someone to be patient because they will find out about something later: · "So what's this surprise you've got for me then?" "Wait and see."· I'm not going to tell you who else I've invited - you'll just have to wait and see.
say this when you are advising someone to wait before deciding something, in order to see how the situation develops: · Let's load up the program and see how things go.· See how things go for another week, and if you're no better we'll change the treatment.
American use this to tell someone to stop, because you want to talk to them or go with them: · Wait up, you guys! I can't walk that fast.
say this when you want someone to know that you will be able to see them or talk to them very soon: · I'm sorry for the delay, sir - I'll be right with you.· Hang your coat up and make yourself at home - I'll be right there.
formal use this to ask someone to wait patiently while you explain something or while you finish what you are doing: · If you'll just bear with me, I'll explain.· Bear with me for just a couple of minutes while I find my notes.
say this to someone who is hurrying too much, when you want them to slow down: · Hold your horses - I haven't even said I'll do the job yet!
spoken say this to someone who wants you to hurry, to tell them that you are not going to: · "When are we going to open the presents?" "All in good time."
a period of time when you have to wait · I'm sorry you have had such a long wait.· Relatives now face an anxious wait while the emergency services search the wreckage for survivors.a ten-minute/two-hour etc wait · After a four-hour wait at the airport, we finally got on a flight to New York.· A lot of patients face a two-year wait for treatment.
to make someone wait to make someone wait, especially by arriving late: · I'm sorry to keep you waiting.· She was annoyed because she had been kept waiting.keep sb waiting for: · Lott kept us waiting for 40 minutes while he attended another meeting.
to deliberately make someone wait: · Shaw made us wait a few days before giving us an answer.· They made me wait for half an hour before allowing me to see my father.
to make someone wait anxiously or excitedly before you tell them something that they are eager to know: · Come on - don't keep us in suspense - who won?· The audience is kept in suspense to the very end of the play.
to make someone wait a long time for something that you are not actually going to give them: · They kept me hanging on for three weeks before they finally told me they weren't going to give me the job.
when you stand in a line of people waiting British to stand in a line of people who are all waiting for the same thing: · Students were queuing up at the bus-stop.queue (up) to do something: · It's worth queuing up to get the best tickets.queue (up) for: · I hope we don't have to queue for tickets.
American to stand in a line of people who are all waiting for the same thing: · Go and wait in line like everyone else.stand/wait in line for: · There were about 50 people standing in line for tickets outside the club.stand/wait in line to do something: · People stood in line to touch him, believing his body had healing powers.
if people line up , they go and stand in a line and wait to do something or be given something: · The guard ordered us to line up by the wall.line up to do something: · Christopher and the other children lined up to receive their awards.
British /line American a group of people, standing one behind the other, who are all waiting for the same thing: · The queue went right round the block.queue for: · There was a long queue for the toilets.the front/back of the queue/line: · After waiting for an hour, we finally got to the front of the line.join a queue/get in line: · I joined the queue for a taxi.· Two people tried to get in line ahead of us.
British /be in (the) line American to be waiting in a line with people who are all waiting for the same thing: · While I was in the queue at the bank I met an old school friend.· Kerry started talking to the people who were in line ahead of us.be in the queue for: · Several people in the line for the rollercoaster gave up and left.
British to get something before other people who have been waiting for it longer than you: · My official uniform meant that we could jump the queue.· While ordinary citizens had to wait months to get hospital treatment, government officials were able to jump the queue.
informal to join a line in front of other people who are already waiting, so that you get something before them: · I hate people who push in in front of me!· Hey, that guy just cut in line!
when someone is waiting for something to happen able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or bored: · I'm sure she'll write soon. Just try to be patient.· Halle was patient, waiting for the boy to finish his explanation.
becoming annoyed because you have been waiting for a long time: · Don't be so impatient. I'm working as fast as I can.· By this time there was a queue of impatient customers waiting to be served.impatient for: · The new minister was almost immediately the object of attack by politicians and press impatient for results.get/become/grow impatient (with): · I could see that Max was getting impatient with me.
to wait happily or excitedly for something that is going to happen: · I'm really looking forward to this trip to Japan.· We used to look forward to the weekends because that was when we could spend some time together.look forward to to doing something: · I look forward to meeting you next month.
if you say you can't wait , you mean you feel excited and impatient because something good is going to happen and you want it to happen as soon as possible: · We're flying to Austria on Friday. I can't wait!can't wait for: · I can't wait for Christmas!· School is so boring. I can't wait for the holidays to come.can't wait to do something: · I can't wait to see their new house.· She couldn't wait to quit her job and get married.
to wait anxiously to see what is going to happen, especially when there is a possibility that something bad may happen: · Rachel held her breath as she waited for his answer.· The art world will be holding its breath to see how much these paintings sell for at auction.
waiting hopefully and excitedly for something to happen: · Bright expectant faces were turned upward toward the stage.· Expectant crowds waited outside the theatre.· The darkened assembly room became suddenly hushed and expectant as the picture appeared on the screen.
feeling excited about something feeling happy and full of energy, especially about something good that has happened or is going to happen: · Steve's coming home tomorrow - we're all really excited.· crowds of excited football fansexcited about: · How can you be so excited about a stupid computer game?get excited: · When Mattie gets excited, she starts talking really fast.excited by: · Doctors are very excited by the discovery.excited to do something: · When we get home, the dogs are always excited to see us.
to feel excited about something good that is going to happen and to think about it a lot: · The kids are looking forward to their vacation - they've never been to California before.look forward to doing something: · She's really looking forward to meeting him.
spoken if you can't wait for something to happen, you want it to happen soon because you are very excited about it: · "We'll see you next week." "I know - I can't wait!"can't wait for: · The kids can't wait for Christmas.can't wait to do something: · He couldn't wait to get home and tell Dean the news.can't wait for somebody/something to do something: · I can't wait for the football season to start.
very excited , happy, and pleased: thrilled to do something: · I'm thrilled to be here tonight.thrilled with: · Chester's absolutely thrilled with his baby daughter.thrilled at/by: · She was thrilled at the idea of flying to Europe.thrilled to bitsBritish spoken thrilled to death/pieces American spoken (=very thrilled): · Paul is thrilled to death that I'm finally learning to cook.
feeling very excited and full of energy because you are experiencing something that you have never experienced before, especially something dangerous or unusual: · The first time I flew a plane alone, I felt both exhilarated and scared.exhilarated by: · She felt exhilarated by her new sense of power.
American informal to be excited and full of energy, especially when this makes you ready to compete or play sport: · After the coach's pep talk, we were all really pumped and ready to play.get somebody pumped (up) (=make some excited and full of energy): · Nothing gets the crowd or the players pumped up more than a good slam dunk.
if a place is buzzing with excitement , people are very excited, especially because something is about to happen: · The crowd was buzzing as everyone waited for the band to come on stage.· The new stadium has sports fans buzzing with excitement.
to be excited and slightly nervous when you are watching something because you do not know what will happen next: · I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning of the movie to the end.keep somebody on the edge of their seat (=make someone very excited because they do not know what will happen next): · The final ten minutes of the game kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
to be nervous and excited because you are anxiously waiting to hear the result of something, or to know what happens at the end of a story: · After the interview Fran was on tenterhooks, wondering if she'd got the job.keep somebody on tenterhooks (=make someone feel nervous and excited by not telling them something): · Agatha Christie keeps the reader on tenterhooks until the final pages of the story.
if the feeling among a large group of people is at or reaches fever pitch , they are all extremely excited: · The anticipation surrounding the band's arrival is now at fever pitch.
to stand in a line of people also stand/wait on line American to stand in a line of people who are waiting to do something: · Jerry joined the crowd of people who were waiting in line outside the stadium.· Standing in line for hours at some government office was not exactly my idea of fun. to do something: · Are you in line to get tickets?
British to stand in a line of people who are waiting to do something: · We had to queue for hours in the rain.queue to do something: · One of the other passengers who was queueing to get on the train suddenly had a heart attack.queue for: · Thousands queued for tickets to see the final.
British /line up American to form a line or join a line of people who are standing one behind another in order to wait to do something, for example buy a ticket: · We queued up outside the stadium and had to wait over an hour for our tickets.queue up to do something: · People began lining up to get into the movie theater. queue up for: · We used to have to queue up for bread every morning.
if many people line a street, they stand next to each other in lines along the sides of it, especially in order to see an important person or event: · Hundreds of people lined the streets to see the football team go by.· The route taken by the Queen was lined with crowds of people waving flags.
to not go to bed and not sleep to not go to bed at the usual time or when other people do, but to stay awake and do things: · You guys go ahead and go to bed. I think I'll stay up for a while.· Kate stayed up all night by his bedside.· Didn't you even stay up on election night?· We went to bed, but Julie and Kate stayed up talking and playing cards.stay up till the small/wee hours (=keep awake until very late or nearly morning): · That night Carl stayed up into the small hours, preparing work for the next day.
to keep awake and not go to bed at the usual time because you are waiting for someone to come home: · Julie's parents waited up all night but she never came home.· I'll be home late tonight, so don't wait up.wait up for: · I should go - Marie will be waiting up for me.
not sleeping: · John, are you awake? I think I heard someone downstairs.· When she returned to the bedroom, Jamie was awake. wide awake (=awake and not tired at all): · I was still wide awake at 2:00 a.m. when Jody came home.half awake (=only partly awake): · Gretchen wandered into the kitchen, only half awake and looking for coffee.stay awake: · Ellen was determined to stay awake, despite the late hour.
to want something very much to want something to happen, when it is unlikely or impossible that it will happen, or when you cannot control what will happen: wish (that): · I wish I had a car like that.· Beth wished she could stay there forever.wish somebody/something would do something: · I wish they would turn that music down.
especially spoken to want something very much, and feel that you would be happy if you had it: · I would love a cup of coffee.would love to do something: · She would love to have children, but she hasn't met the right man.· "Would you like to go on a Caribbean cruise?" "I'd love to!" would love somebody to do something: · My mother would love me to come and live in New York with her.
if you say that you would do anything , would give anything or would give your right arm , you mean you very much want to have something or do something, especially something that is impossible to get or do: would do anything/would give anything/would give your right arm for: · I would do anything for a drink right now!· I would give anything for a look at that file.would do anything/would give anything/would give your right arm to do something: · When she first started writing, she would have done anything to get an article printed.· I'd give my right arm to be 21 again.
also be keen to do something British to want to do something very much, especially because you think it will be interesting or enjoyable or it will help other people: · He's really keen to meet you.· I was eager to get my hands on these rare recordings.· Donna is very eager to prove her worth to the group.be keen for somebody to do something: · My parents were keen for me to be independent, and let me have a lot of freedom.
to want very much to do or achieve something, so that you make a great effort: · Miles was anxious to gain his boss's approval, and was always the last to leave the office in the evening.· A newly-arrived executive is usually anxious to make his mark in a new firm.be anxious for somebody/something to do something: · After the war, the government was anxious for the tourist industry to be revived.
to want something very much, and feel that you must have it or do it immediately: be dying to do something: · I'm dying to meet Lisa's new boyfriend.be dying for: · I'm dying for a drink - let's go to a bar.
especially British to want or need something so much that you will be very unhappy or disappointed if you do not get it: · I could see that they were desperate and needed help.be desperate to do something: · After having four boys, the couple were desperate to have a little girl.· We were desperate to view the inside of the house once we saw the garden.be desperate for: · Newspapers are always desperate for stories.
spoken say this when you want something to happen as soon as possible, because you know you will enjoy it and you are very excited about it: · "You're going on holiday soon, aren't you?" "Yes, I can't wait."I can't wait to do something: · I can't wait to see Bill again - it's been a long time.can't wait for: · I can't wait for Christmas.
to be impatient to do something that you are excited about, especially something you have not done before: · She's just itching to tell you about her new boyfriend.· Despite her success, however, it just wasn't much fun anymore. Liz was itching to try something different.
a word used especially in spoken English meaning to want something very much, especially something to eat, drink etc: · I need a drink - coming to the bar?· Dave's been working really hard - he needs a holiday.
to want as much of something as you can get, especially food, attention, or a drug: · I've always craved love and acceptance.· The review gave Picasso a taste of the recognition he craved.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadverbs
Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge. I can’t wait to see the back of this project, I can tell you (=I will be happy when it ends). He waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath. Sorry to keep you waiting – I got stuck in a meeting. Customers stood in line for 20 minutes at the cash register. Have you been waiting long? He waited patiently for Katherine to speak. When the doorbell rang he was ready and waiting. We’ll just have to wait and see. I was then put on a waiting list to see a specialist at the local hospital.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· William waited an hour for his sister to arrive.
(=wait a long time – used especially in questions or negative sentences)· She did not have to wait long for a train.
informal esp BrE (=wait a long time)· I had to wait ages for a bus.
· They patiently waited for the rain to stop.
· He waited impatiently for a reply.
· All his friends were waiting anxiously for their exam results.
(=hoping that something good or exciting will happen soon)· He took out his camera and waited expectantly.
phrases· He kept us waiting for half an hour.
(=while feeling very anxious or excited)· She waited with bated breath to see what he would say.
(=wait for something that never happens)· They waited in vain for their son to come home.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge.· Kate was looking at me, waiting for an answer.
I can’t wait to see the back of this project, I can tell you (=I will be happy when it ends). He waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath.· We were waiting for the bus for half an hour.
(=used to say that something is bad and will fail)· The government’s educational reforms are a disaster waiting to happen.
(=expect an explanation)· She continued to stare at him in silence, waiting for an explanation.
· I insisted that he wait.
· I insisted that he waited.
Sorry to keep you waiting – I got stuck in a meeting. Customers stood in line for 20 minutes at the cash register. (=a list of people who are waiting for something)· If you don’t get the class you want, you can put your name on a waiting list.
Have you been waiting long?· Wait a moment while I get my coat.
He waited patiently for Katherine to speak.· She stood in the queue at the checkout.
When the doorbell rang he was ready and waiting. We’ll just have to wait and see.· She had been waiting since five o’clock.
· She sat on the railway platform for half an hour, waiting for a train.
I was then put on a waiting list to see a specialist at the local hospital.· I could hardly wait to get in those bars.· She could hardly wait to start.· I can hardly wait to hear about left temporal lobe epileptics.· I can hardly wait - I hear some of John's outfits are quite stunning.· This paper's radio critic can hardly wait.· Well, I could hardly wait for the fight ahead.
· Carol and Gillian waited patiently while the hall slowly emptied.· I had two companies engaged by two battalions and the third company waiting patiently.· Everything was in perfect order, as if the place was waiting patiently for its occupants to arrive.· Fixing her gaze back on the water, she felt again the presence behind her, waiting patiently.· No 2 Countess waits patiently while the specially produced banner is displayed to the guest and press.· Mail flies faster than thought, then waits patiently.· He waited patiently for Katherine to speak.· She would wait patiently, sure Frank would choose her in the end.
· Five years later, he is still waiting for a response.· Dallas busted the game open when Irvin slipped past cornerback Terrell Buckley, who is still waiting for help from his safeties.· Thousands of animals that have been killed are still waiting to be burnt or buried.· Yet the world was still waiting on Flamsteed to finish surveying the stars.· Whereas most factory riders spend winter testing for the following season, West was still waiting for his bike to be delivered.· Stein and the other owners still wait for a damage settlement from their insurance carrier, State Farm Insurance Co.· At eight, still waiting by the window, a second bulletin corrected one of the reports from the first.· La Serenata is still waiting for their full liquor license.
· Nick was waiting there, holding Miss Fazackerly's hand.· He then asked them again if they would be patient and wait there until he returned.· Forester was waiting there, and he looked tired and worn.· Paramount News sent another of their photographers, Andy Fulgoni, up to Trepassey to wait there for the fliers.· Sailors waiting there hauled them roughly on to the ship, not caring how they landed.· Would it, I asked, have seemed like an insult to find it waiting there on the table?· She waited there a bit and then dashed up the road and crossed over to our street.· I felt like a vulture sitting there waiting for bad emergencies to happen.
NOUN· Eagerly, Wilson waited for an answer, quite convinced of what it would be.· Tobie was waiting for an answer.· He did not wait for an answer, thrust the radio into a tuft of grass six inches from his face.· He cocked his head, waiting for an answer.· He was waiting for her answer, not exactly on the edge of his seat, though.· However, if the customer is waiting for an immediate answer, there is no time for this.· Almost two months after my interview, I was still hoping and waiting for an answer.
· Half past eight comes and it is time to stand outside and wait for the bus.· At least 16 children who had been waiting at the bus stop were questioned by investigators.· I went to Westminster one night in mid-March, and was waiting for my bus just outside the Abbey.· One by one, silently, they head out the door, across the lobby and into the waiting chartered bus.· I had to wait for the bus.· They reminded me of three little schoolboys I had just seen earlier this morning, waiting for the school bus.· It was the kind of place where you waited for a bus that never came.· Well, perhaps Warner had seen her waiting for a bus or hitchhiking to the inaugural and generously gave her a lift.
· Now he too was waiting for a phone call, promised for the afternoon.· Women spend more time waiting to get telephone calls and wondering if there will be another date.· If you leave the fax software running, waiting to answer incoming calls, you can't use the data modem as well.· They were waiting for my call.· A team of officers will also be waiting for calls at the Durham Police headquarters.· Each night as I wait for his call I feel my strength on trial; what will become of my hard-won solitude?· Especially now, waiting for the call into their presence.· For the time being she was excused from her prop-room duties and she needn't wait for the curtain call.
· Around half of patients currently wait longer than two days to see their doctor.· The rabbi told Minna that she would have to wait ninety days before she could be married again.· We had friends who waited two days in Sorata before getting transport to the Ancohuma base.· After waiting around for ten days he was instructed to proceed to Bombay.· She had to wait four more days.· Doctors at Pinderfield hospital, Huddersfield, will wait two days before operating to remove the pellet lodged behind his left eye.· There they waited and marked their days.
· We waited another half hour behind a pile of sand for the shooting to die down.· Huge crowds were waiting an hour in the cold before the service was scheduled to begin.· We must have waited half an hour.· After hostage negotiators heard the gunshot over the phone, police waited about a half hour before entering the home.· He waited an hour, quite immobile.· Help yourself, but wait an hour after eating.
· Parr kept his window open, and while he waited on the line, let the sounds from outside wash his consciousness.· Anyone who has ever waited in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles will sympathize with this dilemma.· I look at the faces of the women waiting in line.· A few people waiting in line mutter in disgust, others sigh.· In Teheran poor peoples wait in long lines in the snow for paraffin.· Fakhru did not like to wait in line.· Half the kids stay to wait in line.· The name Daley and Simon on the office door possesses magic that has the big clients almost waiting in line.
· He left her on the hard shoulder, near Epping, Essex, saying she would only have to wait 15 minutes.· And hey, wait a minute.· Duck or diver, it had dived, and, though I waited for long minutes, it did not appear again.· Aganiia, wait a minute, precious.· We went inside and waited: the minutes seemed like hours.· Then we threw down the two pull-cords on either side, waited a minute or so, and headed down.· No, wait a minutes, don't tell me - it's a long time since - where was it?
· It's a big file, so expect to wait a few minutes.· He waited fifteen minutes, which seemed like hours, and still she didn't come.· The camp waited, and more minutes slowly passed.· Duck or diver, it had dived, and, though I waited for long minutes, it did not appear again.· We went inside and waited: the minutes seemed like hours.· I waited ten more minutes, then raised the latch and eased the door open until it bumped against his head.
· He pressed down on the cradle, waited a moment then dialled again.· Perhaps he had been toying with John Chapel, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.· The pilot is under orders to wait for the right moment to land.· Pat waited a moment, then sighed and hooked his arm.· I was waiting for the right moment to find out just how deeply your were involved with Elise.· All the while, however, he was waiting for his moment.
· On that basis the number waiting over 12 months is now 27 percent. lower than in March 1979.· Of course, if I'd waited just a few months, I could have had anyone I liked.· We still have to wait months for payment of vitally important benefits such as the attendance allowance.· But it is not worth waiting several months for the right special offer to come up.· Alistair waited for nearly two months.· But she may have to wait up to eighteen months for surgery.· Two days waiting like two bloody months.· I buy your magazine every month and sometimes I don't receive it and have to wait till the month after.
· Charlotte walked slowly on to the platform and waited for her train to pull in.· The platform is brightly lit and filled with people waiting for the train to pull in.· The man was standing by his left shoulder, waiting for the train to stop.· At about 4: 00 p. m. about 600 people were waiting around for their trains.· But he could not sit patiently and wait for the next train, in an hour's time.· There were a couple of men standing there by the door, waiting for the train to pull in and stop.· I spect he's waiting for a train.· It'd be nice to be waiting here for a train and then getting on it and going somewhere nice.
· It is unnecessarily unnerving to be waiting your turn while potential workmates eye you up and down.· Jelani had to wait his turn.· Everyone had to wait their turn or be punished by filling in a long complicated questionnaire two hundred and sixteen times.· Inside, he picked up a magazine and waited his turn.· Goibniu would have to wait his turn.· Men line up in the yard, smoking and passing around flasks and bottles while they wait their turn inside.· Other questions, no less pressing such as who, how, why and when would just have to wait their turn.
· Mind has waited for 3 billion years on this planet before composing its first string quartet.· But why did we have to wait 30 years to learn about them?· No longer can the company wait two to three years to deliver a satellite, Schwendinger said.· Sokolov's idea was good, but it had to wait more than 20 years before the technology to implement it was invented.· She had been on transplant waiting lists for three years.· Charlotte and Alexander have been waiting for years.· Growers -- mostly peasant farmers -- planted agave in the late 1980s, then waited seven years for their crop to mature.
VERB· One man was not going to be kept waiting, though.· Now, off you go, you have kept him waiting long enough.· And Alvin never kept you waiting while he pondered.· We kept waiting and waiting for you to pop up.· Mr Clinton was horribly late for a night at the Hanoi opera house, keeping everyone waiting.· We both kept waiting for the moment when the experience would overwhelm us and send chills up our spines.
· He lay frozen, waiting for some reaction, but there was nothing.· They lay there, waiting for sleep to come.· I wonder whether I lay waiting, having to do without him and lull myself the whole way to sleep.· In her room, Jenna undressed and went to bed, but she lay awake, waiting for grief to hit her.· For the students it becomes a period of morbid hibernation, lying low and waiting out the years.· Just sitting, lying, waiting for the inevitable visit to room 19.· Now this woman of endless stories, a teacher, lies without words, waiting to die.
· In his room he pulled on a dressing-gown and sat down and waited.· Neither should be ignored-above all, not while we sit back and wait for the society to be transformed.· Returning to his chair, he sat and waited.· On the high hilltop in the darkness Psyche sat, waiting for she knew not what terror.· All they had to do was sit back and wait for it all to fall apart.· Her moment of complete despair had come when Doyle switched on the radio and sat down to wait and see what happened.· You can see them on the hardwood ridges, but only if you sit down and wait patiently.
· I therefore continued to stand there awkwardly, waiting for my employer to give me permission to undertake the motoring trip.· While Rusakova stood waiting outside, Galina filed into the Buran along with 38 other passengers.· We can not stand by and wait for the equivalent of the Apple Macintosh to create a second empowerment of our students.· But these classical kids just stood around in rehearsal waiting to be shown what to do.· They were made to stand and wait in the first of these.· The young man stood patiently waiting, in jeans with rolled cuffs, two days' stubble on his chin.· As soon as you saw that you were about to be struck, you stood at attention and waited for the blows.· An intruder stood over me, waiting.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► Wait up!► somebody can’t wait/can hardly waitPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle► wait a minute/just a minute/hold on a minute/hang on a minute
1not go/start something [intransitive] to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc: - He decided to wait and see what happened in the other rehearsals.
- I promise you, you just wait and see.
- I would simply have to wait and see.
- Staff at Oxford Regional health Authority will now have to wait and see how many of them are to keep their jobs.
- The best attitude to have towards money matters in 1993 is: wait and see.
- They therefore had decided to wait and see how the operations progressed before attempting to formulate subsequent war strategy.
- Until recently, all she and her family could do was wait and see.
- You said you were going to wait and see.
- But we have to wait until then.
- Don't wait until it has been completed.
- He would wait until evening and the solitude of the rectory, and the peace of his newly dug garden.
- I wait till she has finished and gone upstairs.
- I reactivated the potentially offending pieces of software, one by one, waiting until the problem reappeared.
- It is not necessary to wait until the data are completely processed or analyzed before the report writing phase can begin.
- The entertainment behemoth has said it would wait until shareholders in both companies approve the acquisition at separate meetings Thursday.
- They were asked to wait until Kitty was eighteen and they agreed.
- But I must go now, for my babies are waiting in the nest for me.
- I will be waiting by the phone.
- She believed in the ship, and was waiting for it.
- Ted Lame, shirtless in the heat of the summer night, was waiting for them where they crossed Highway 18.
- The others are waiting and they may be in danger.
- The scouts were waiting between the banks of a frozen creek.
- They had reached the door, and the motor was waiting to convey them back to Hampstead.
- A long line of people waited their turn to shake his hand.
- Everyone has to wait their turn.
- Everyone had to wait their turn or be punished by filling in a long complicated questionnaire two hundred and sixteen times.
- Goibniu would have to wait his turn.
- In one corner of the improvised surgery lay four other forms on stretchers, waiting their turn.
- Inside, he picked up a magazine and waited his turn.
- It is unnecessarily unnerving to be waiting your turn while potential workmates eye you up and down.
- Jelani had to wait his turn.
- Men line up in the yard, smoking and passing around flasks and bottles while they wait their turn inside.
- Wearing red overalls, the princess laughed and chatted to other drivers while she waited her turn.
- Tuesday night's Boston-Chicago game was worth waiting for.
- Something worth having is worth waiting for.
- It'll be a huge success, just you wait.
- What are you waiting for? Ask her out on a date.
- And with actual tickets for the event up for grabs, what are you waiting for?
- So what are you waiting for.
- What are we waiting for? Let's go eat.
- All they had to do was sit back and wait for it all to fall apart.
- His name was ... wait for it ... Mr Bacon.
- However much he wanted the answer to his unasked question, he was going to have to wait for it.
- Lynn and I both leaned forward over the pit waiting for it to start working.
- The whole world was waiting for it.
- They attacked life, they didn't sit quietly around waiting for it to flatten them.
- We must, surely, eventually get to recovery, but we have been waiting for it for a long time.
- Young, a talented quarterback, was waiting in the wings for the day when Montana couldn't play.
- A new comedy wave, I suppose, is waiting in the wings.
- If so, the Democrats would be waiting in the wings.
- Shortstop Jose Vizcaino is a free agent, and if his price is too high Rich Aurilia is waiting in the wings.
- The world's list of mammals is about five thousand long, but three thousand more may be waiting in the wings.
- I spent the summer waiting tables.
- Although most people were relieved that the waiting game was over, the first days and nights were nerve-racking.
- But von Steinholz wanted to play a waiting game and see where the trail led him.
- Friday, and volunteer fireman Dave Papenfuss said it was purely a waiting game after that.
- It was a waiting game now, she thought anxiously.
- Lucy only wished that she could have more of the patience required to play a waiting game.
- She had played a waiting game with great skill in the 1540s.
- The Danley strike, like many others, was a waiting game and a numbers game.
- Unfortunately, with work inhibition, the waiting game only ensures future problems.
- And wait a minute ... Sage Derby.
- And hey, wait a minute.
- Beth, can it wait a minute?
- But wait a minute! - Wasn't that blood?
- But wait a minute, what's this?
- I rounded the corner, then stopped, waited a moment and peeked back into the lobby.
- They come back, you know, if I wait a minute.
- Ward waited a moment by the door.
- Oliver expects us to wait on him hand and foot.
- Go home - the report can wait until tomorrow.
- A student helicopter pilot wallowing around in a hover in a tight clearing is an accident waiting to happen.
- Another way of putting it would be that the dollar is an accident waiting to happen.
- Mr Stewart said that there was an accident waiting to happen and he feared lives would be lost.
- People living near the site say it was an accident waiting to happen.
- Unless, of course, it was an accident waiting to happen.
- Lott kept us waiting for 40 minutes while he attended another meeting.
- She was annoyed because she had been kept waiting.
- But who knows also the beauty which lies in wait hereabouts, which led Williams and Bingley to make the climb?
- Everywhere, finally, social revolution lies in wait, showing its colours and sharpening its demands.
- He lay in wait for his father and wounded him terribly.
- Life had always pulsated; death for ever lay in wait.
- One month ago, each new day had lain in wait to ambush Gabriel: he had woken up cringing.
- She lay in wait for pain, expecting no rewards from people, and this made her a hopelessly disconcerting friend.
- Some real bargains lie in wait amongst the never-ending maze of stalls.
- There were pitched battles, so they lay in wait for you.
- Dagenham's employees can only hope that Ford does not resurrect the phrase in the 1990s.
- Hamilton can only hope he improves as much as Benes has since the Padres traded him.
- Like the steeplechase where Vronsky breaks his mare's back with reckless riding, you can only wait for the pistol shot.
- The scientists can only wait and hope.
- Users can only hope the vendors will apply the same effort to other unresolved technology issues.
- We can only hope Gilstrap won't push to have any of that text deleted.
- We can only wait and help each other and watch this dreadful plague spread.
- You can only hope they learned from their mistakes.
- He stopped by on his night off, was let in the stage door, and stood in the wings.
- None the less, there are always people waiting in the wings to discredit a positive image.
- On Concorde, though, the engines are embedded in the wings, next to the fuel tanks.
- Platt has had to wait in the wings because he is one of four foreign players fighting for the permitted three places.
- The local chapter leaders waiting in the wings seemed upset.
- There were no wealthy aunts or uncles waiting in the wings.
Hurry up! Everyone’s waiting. Would you mind waiting outside?wait for a queue of people waiting for a bus Wait for me!wait for somebody/something to do something She paused, waiting for Myles to say something. I sat waiting patiently for the wedding to end.wait until/till I’ll wait till you come back.wait (for) three hours/two weeks etc Can you wait for five minutes? We’ve been waiting ages.wait to do something Are you waiting to use the phone?keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, especially by arriving late) I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.GRAMMAR• You wait for something or someone: · I waited for the next bus. ✗Don’t say: I waited the next bus.• You wait for someone to do something, or for something to happen: · She waited for him to finish speaking. ✗Don’t say: She waited him to finish speaking.2something has not happened [intransitive] if you are waiting for something that you expect or hope will happen or arrive, it has not happened or arrived yet: ‘Have you heard about the job?’ ‘No, I’m still waiting.’wait for I’m still waiting for my results.wait for somebody/something to do something I’m waiting for him to realize how stupid he’s been.3wait a minute/second/moment etc spoken a)used to ask someone not to leave or start doing something immediately: Wait a second, I’ll get my coat and come with you. Wait a moment, just let me think. b)used to interrupt someone, especially because you do not agree with what they are saying: Wait a minute! That’s not what we agreed! c)used when you suddenly think of, remember, or notice something: Wait a minute, I’ve got a better idea.4somebody can’t wait/can hardly wait spoken a)used to emphasize that someone is very excited about something and is eager for it to happen: We’re going to Australia on Saturday – I can’t wait!can’t wait to do something I can’t wait to tell Gloria the good news. Laura could hardly wait to see the twins again.wait for I can’t wait for the summer. b)used humorously to say that something seems likely to be very boring: A lecture on transformational grammar? I can hardly wait!5something can/can’t wait if something can wait, it is not very urgent. If something can’t wait, it is very urgent: Go home. The report can wait till tomorrow.6wait and see spoken used to say that someone should be patient because they will find out about something later: ‘What’s for dinner?’ ‘Wait and see.’ We will just have to wait and see how things develop.7wait until/till ... spoken used when you are excited about telling or showing someone something: Wait till you see Gaby’s new house!8be waiting (for somebody) if something is waiting for you, it is ready for you to use, collect etc: There’ll be a rental car waiting for you at the airport. Come round at eight and I’ll have dinner waiting.9wait your turn to stay calm until it is your turn to do something, instead of trying to move ahead of other people: I’ve got two hands and there are three of you. So you’ll have to wait your turn!10something is (well) worth waiting for spoken used to say that something is very good, even though it takes a long time to come: Their new album was worth waiting for.11(just) you wait spoken a) British English used to warn or threaten someone: I’ll get you back for what you’ve done, just you wait. b)used to tell someone you are sure something will happen: It’ll be a huge success. Just you wait.12what are you waiting for? spoken used to tell someone to do something immediately: Well, what are you waiting for? Go and apologize.13what are we waiting for? spoken used to say in a cheerful way that you think everyone should start doing something immediately: What are we waiting for? Let’s go eat.14wait for it British English spoken a)used just before you tell someone something that is funny or surprising: His name was – wait for it – Mr Bacon. b)used to tell someone not to do something until the correct time because they seem very impatient to do it now15be waiting in the wings to be ready to do something if it is necessary or if a suitable time comes: Other firms are waiting in the wings, ready to step in and make an offer should the current deal fall through.16wait tables American English to work in a restaurant serving food and drink to people at their tables: I spent the summer waiting tables.17(play) a/the waiting game if you play a waiting game, you try to gain an advantage for yourself in a particular situation by deliberately doing nothing until you have seen what other people doCOLLOCATIONSadverbswait two hours/ten minutes etc· William waited an hour for his sister to arrive.wait long (=wait a long time – used especially in questions or negative sentences)· She did not have to wait long for a train.wait ages informal esp BrE (=wait a long time)· I had to wait ages for a bus.patiently· They patiently waited for the rain to stop.impatiently· He waited impatiently for a reply.anxiously· All his friends were waiting anxiously for their exam results.wait expectantly (=hoping that something good or exciting will happen soon)· He took out his camera and waited expectantly.phraseskeep somebody waiting· He kept us waiting for half an hour.wait with bated breath (=while feeling very anxious or excited)· She waited with bated breath to see what he would say.wait in vain (=wait for something that never happens)· They waited in vain for their son to come home.THESAURUSwait to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc: · I’ll wait here while you call him.· He said he was waiting for a friend.hang around (also hang about British English) informal to wait in a place not doing anything, especially so that you are wasting time: · They kept us hanging around for hours at the hospital.hold on/hang on to wait because you are hoping that something will happen: · The captain decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.· We hung on until the very last moment.can you hold on/hang on? spoken used when telling someone to wait: · Can you hang on a minute? I just want to finish this email.stand by/be on standby to wait and be ready to do something if needed – used especially about soldiers, police, medical teams etc: · The army are standing by.· Emergency services were on standby after someone called to say there was a bomb in the city centre.await formal to wait for something – used about something that you know will happen or arrive: · I will await your reply (=in a formal letter).· In February, nearly 200,000 prisoners were awaiting trial.· The soldiers awaited the order to advance.wait around (also wait about British English) phrasal verb to stay in the same place and do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen, someone to arrive etc: Movie-making involves acting for ten minutes and then waiting around for two hours. We’d better be going. We can’t wait about like this any longer.wait behind phrasal verb British English to stay somewhere after other people have left: She waited behind to help Debbie with the clearing up.wait in phrasal verb British English to stay at home and wait there for someone to arrive: I have to wait in for the repair man.wait on somebody/something phrasal verb1to serve food and drink to someone at their table, especially in a restaurant2to wait for a particular event, piece of information etc, especially before doing something or making a decision: We’re waiting on the blood test results.3wait on somebody hand and foot to do everything for someone while they do nothing – used to show disapproval: His wife waits on him hand and foot.wait something ↔ out phrasal verb if you wait out an event, period, or time, especially an unpleasant one, you wait for it to finish: Let’s find a place where we can wait out the storm.wait up phrasal verb1to wait for someone to return before you go to bedwait up for Don’t wait up for me; I may be late.2Wait up! American English used to tell someone to stop, so that you can talk to them or go with them: ‘Wait up!’ he called.wait1 verbwait2 noun
waitwait2 ●●○ noun [singular] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A lot of patients face a two-year wait for treatment.
- After a four-hour wait at the airport, we finally got on a flight to New York.
- I'm sorry you have had such a long wait.
- Relatives now face an anxious wait while the emergency services search the wreckage for survivors.
- There is often a one-hour wait to see a doctor.
- By the end of 1996 long waits had shot up again.
- I do studies in my office on patient satisfaction, short waits, warmth and caring of my office personnel.
- In many ways it's worth the wait.
- So there is not that long a wait.
Longman Language Activatorto wait
to spend time not doing very much, while you are expecting something to happen or expecting someone to arrive: · Wait here until I get back.· Hurry up, everyone's waiting.wait for somebody: · I'll stay here and wait for Suzie.wait for something: · We spent almost an hour just waiting for the bus.wait (for) a minute/two hours/a long time etc: · Where have you been? I've been waiting since 7:00.· You'll have to wait a few minutes - I'm not ready yet.wait to do something: · Are you waiting to use the phone?wait for somebody/something to do something: · She waited for him to reply.· He waited for the applause to die down before he continued speaking.keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, for example by arriving late): · I'm so sorry I kept you waiting.wait and see (=wait to find out what will happen): · I've done as much as I can - now all I can do is wait and see what happens.wait-and-see attitude/position/approach etc: · The airline industry has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the report's proposals.
spoken to wait, especially in a difficult situation, hoping that something good will happen: · Captain Damas decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.· We knew that if we hung on long enough, things were bound to change.
also hang about British informal informal to wait in one place without doing anything, so that you are wasting time: · Sally hung around for over an hour but no-one came.· I wish we could get on with the job. I hate all this hanging about.hang around for British: · We spent half an hour hanging about for Kerry.hang around for hours/ages etc: · We were hanging around for hours before they opened the gates.keep somebody hanging around: · We can't keep our troops hanging around forever, doing nothing.
to wait and be ready to do something if needed: · The family stood by, knowing that she might wake up any minute.stand by for: · The crew was ordered to stand by for take-off.stand by to do something: · The Foreign Minister had a helicopter standing by to whisk him to the northern city of Afula.
to wait before doing something that other people are also waiting to do, because some of them have the right to do it before you: · Everyone has to wait their turn.wait your turn to do something: · A long line of people waited their turn to shake his hand.
to wait until something has finished, especially something unpleasant or boring: sit it out: · If the plane's late, there's nothing we can do except sit it out.sit something out: · Tony forced himself to sit the play out.sit out something: · Like many people in the community, we sat out the storm at home, hoping no disasters would occur.
formal to wait for something: · The committee is awaiting a decision from head office before it takes any action.· Two men have been charged with murder and are now in prison awaiting trial.
used to describe things that you have waited for for a long time: · The next morning we received the long-awaited order to attack.· It is hoped that these measures will trigger the long-awaited upturn in the economy.
what you say to tell someone to wait · Wait, I have a better idea.· Wait! We haven't talked to Vicky yet.wait a minute/moment/second etc · Wait a minute. I forgot to turn off the lights.· Wait a second, don't rush off!
say this when you want someone to wait a short time: · Just a minute, I'm almost ready.· Just a second, let me just check I've got my keys with me.
also hang on especially British use this to tell someone to wait for a short time: · Hold on - I haven't finished yet.hold on a minute/moment/second etc: · Hang on a minute while I find her phone number.
use this to tell someone to be patient because they will find out about something later: · "So what's this surprise you've got for me then?" "Wait and see."· I'm not going to tell you who else I've invited - you'll just have to wait and see.
say this when you are advising someone to wait before deciding something, in order to see how the situation develops: · Let's load up the program and see how things go.· See how things go for another week, and if you're no better we'll change the treatment.
American use this to tell someone to stop, because you want to talk to them or go with them: · Wait up, you guys! I can't walk that fast.
say this when you want someone to know that you will be able to see them or talk to them very soon: · I'm sorry for the delay, sir - I'll be right with you.· Hang your coat up and make yourself at home - I'll be right there.
formal use this to ask someone to wait patiently while you explain something or while you finish what you are doing: · If you'll just bear with me, I'll explain.· Bear with me for just a couple of minutes while I find my notes.
say this to someone who is hurrying too much, when you want them to slow down: · Hold your horses - I haven't even said I'll do the job yet!
spoken say this to someone who wants you to hurry, to tell them that you are not going to: · "When are we going to open the presents?" "All in good time."
a period of time when you have to wait · I'm sorry you have had such a long wait.· Relatives now face an anxious wait while the emergency services search the wreckage for survivors.a ten-minute/two-hour etc wait · After a four-hour wait at the airport, we finally got on a flight to New York.· A lot of patients face a two-year wait for treatment.
to make someone wait to make someone wait, especially by arriving late: · I'm sorry to keep you waiting.· She was annoyed because she had been kept waiting.keep sb waiting for: · Lott kept us waiting for 40 minutes while he attended another meeting.
to deliberately make someone wait: · Shaw made us wait a few days before giving us an answer.· They made me wait for half an hour before allowing me to see my father.
to make someone wait anxiously or excitedly before you tell them something that they are eager to know: · Come on - don't keep us in suspense - who won?· The audience is kept in suspense to the very end of the play.
to make someone wait a long time for something that you are not actually going to give them: · They kept me hanging on for three weeks before they finally told me they weren't going to give me the job.
when you stand in a line of people waiting British to stand in a line of people who are all waiting for the same thing: · Students were queuing up at the bus-stop.queue (up) to do something: · It's worth queuing up to get the best tickets.queue (up) for: · I hope we don't have to queue for tickets.
American to stand in a line of people who are all waiting for the same thing: · Go and wait in line like everyone else.stand/wait in line for: · There were about 50 people standing in line for tickets outside the club.stand/wait in line to do something: · People stood in line to touch him, believing his body had healing powers.
if people line up , they go and stand in a line and wait to do something or be given something: · The guard ordered us to line up by the wall.line up to do something: · Christopher and the other children lined up to receive their awards.
British /line American a group of people, standing one behind the other, who are all waiting for the same thing: · The queue went right round the block.queue for: · There was a long queue for the toilets.the front/back of the queue/line: · After waiting for an hour, we finally got to the front of the line.join a queue/get in line: · I joined the queue for a taxi.· Two people tried to get in line ahead of us.
British /be in (the) line American to be waiting in a line with people who are all waiting for the same thing: · While I was in the queue at the bank I met an old school friend.· Kerry started talking to the people who were in line ahead of us.be in the queue for: · Several people in the line for the rollercoaster gave up and left.
British to get something before other people who have been waiting for it longer than you: · My official uniform meant that we could jump the queue.· While ordinary citizens had to wait months to get hospital treatment, government officials were able to jump the queue.
informal to join a line in front of other people who are already waiting, so that you get something before them: · I hate people who push in in front of me!· Hey, that guy just cut in line!
when someone is waiting for something to happen able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or bored: · I'm sure she'll write soon. Just try to be patient.· Halle was patient, waiting for the boy to finish his explanation.
becoming annoyed because you have been waiting for a long time: · Don't be so impatient. I'm working as fast as I can.· By this time there was a queue of impatient customers waiting to be served.impatient for: · The new minister was almost immediately the object of attack by politicians and press impatient for results.get/become/grow impatient (with): · I could see that Max was getting impatient with me.
to wait happily or excitedly for something that is going to happen: · I'm really looking forward to this trip to Japan.· We used to look forward to the weekends because that was when we could spend some time together.look forward to to doing something: · I look forward to meeting you next month.
if you say you can't wait , you mean you feel excited and impatient because something good is going to happen and you want it to happen as soon as possible: · We're flying to Austria on Friday. I can't wait!can't wait for: · I can't wait for Christmas!· School is so boring. I can't wait for the holidays to come.can't wait to do something: · I can't wait to see their new house.· She couldn't wait to quit her job and get married.
to wait anxiously to see what is going to happen, especially when there is a possibility that something bad may happen: · Rachel held her breath as she waited for his answer.· The art world will be holding its breath to see how much these paintings sell for at auction.
waiting hopefully and excitedly for something to happen: · Bright expectant faces were turned upward toward the stage.· Expectant crowds waited outside the theatre.· The darkened assembly room became suddenly hushed and expectant as the picture appeared on the screen.
to hide yourself to go somewhere where you cannot be easily found or seen: · Dad's coming. Quick - hide!hide under/behind/in etc: · Dale hid behind some garbage cans in the alley until the men passed.· The cat always hides under the bed when we have visitors.hide from: · Why is he hiding from us? Is he afraid?
to go to a safe place where you can hide for a long time because you are in danger or because the police are looking for you: · He went into hiding soon after the government denounced him.· Police believe the robbers have gone into hiding.
to hide from people who are trying to catch you, and to make sure you do not attract any attention until it is safe to come out: · If you don't want to go back to jail, you'd better lie low for a while.· Weaver had been lying low at his sister's apartment for the past week.
to hide somewhere and not go out at all, especially because the police are looking for you: · We were all planning to hole up till the trouble blew over.hole up in/on etc something: · The gang holed up in a cheap hotel for a few weeks.be holed up in/on etc something: · The FBI believes that Richards is holed up on an estate in Colombia.
to hide in a ship in order to travel to a place without being noticed and without paying: · With no money, his only hope of getting to New York was to stow away on the next ship.· Customs officials discovered several illegal immigrants stowed away at the front of the ship.
formal to hide yourself carefully so that you cannot be seen: · When police arrived, Black made no effort to hide or conceal herself.conceal yourself in/beneath/behind etc: · It was easy for the man to conceal himself in the museum before closing time.conceal yourself from: · Many spiders spin special webs to conceal themselves from danger.
to hide in a place in order to attack or stop someone you know will come there: · The tank commander feared there might be enemy soldiers lying in wait in the hills up ahead.lie in wait for: · Aitkins lay in wait for his victims and shot them as they walked toward their front door.
to wait or move around in a particular area while trying not to be seen, especially because you are going to do something wrong or something you do not want other people to know about: · Who's that skulking over there?lurk/skulk around/about: · Police received reports of a man lurking around the neighborhood.lurk/skulk in/behind/under etc: · I'm sure I saw someone lurking in the bushes just now.· He skulked along the street, looking this way and that to see if anyone was following him.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY There was an hour wait before the next train departed. They’ll have a long wait.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge. I can’t wait to see the back of this project, I can tell you (=I will be happy when it ends). He waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath. Sorry to keep you waiting – I got stuck in a meeting. Customers stood in line for 20 minutes at the cash register. Have you been waiting long? He waited patiently for Katherine to speak. When the doorbell rang he was ready and waiting. We’ll just have to wait and see. I was then put on a waiting list to see a specialist at the local hospital.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
There was an hour wait before the next train departed. They’ll have a long wait. Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge.· Kate was looking at me, waiting for an answer.
I can’t wait to see the back of this project, I can tell you (=I will be happy when it ends). He waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath.· We were waiting for the bus for half an hour.
(=used to say that something is bad and will fail)· The government’s educational reforms are a disaster waiting to happen.
(=expect an explanation)· She continued to stare at him in silence, waiting for an explanation.
· I insisted that he wait.
· I insisted that he waited.
Sorry to keep you waiting – I got stuck in a meeting. Customers stood in line for 20 minutes at the cash register. (=a list of people who are waiting for something)· If you don’t get the class you want, you can put your name on a waiting list.
Have you been waiting long?· Wait a moment while I get my coat.
He waited patiently for Katherine to speak.· She stood in the queue at the checkout.
When the doorbell rang he was ready and waiting. We’ll just have to wait and see.· She had been waiting since five o’clock.
· She sat on the railway platform for half an hour, waiting for a train.
I was then put on a waiting list to see a specialist at the local hospital.· The average wait before this is located would be half a revolution if the whole overflow track were full.· Usually this is not the case so the average wait will be less than half a revolution.· The average wait was 20 weeks.· This should reduce the average wait for notes from 20 weeks to 4.6 weeks.· The average wait is usually about 40 seconds.
· Ironically, later auf became a local expression for a long wait, or working for nothing.· Blue resigns himself to a long wait and then settles down with his newspapers and magazines.· There was running and shouting outside, then a long wait in silence.· And if you around here looking for justice, you got a long wait.· Ferguson can not afford to wait if United are to end their long wait for the League title this season.· Walking without tripping was enough after such a long wait.· A long wait for a patient with bladder outflow obstruction for a specialist opinion is both undesirable and unacceptable.· Then Alvin endured a long, dispirited wait for a flight back to New York late that night.
· After a short wait he climbed the stairs and at the top he called again.· There's usually a much shorter wait, if any.· After the interview with the doctor there may be a short wait before the examination itself begins.· The train came miraculously in ten minutes, a short wait.· I do studies in my office on patient satisfaction, short waits, warmth and caring of my office personnel.
VERB· The parents face a nightmare week-long wait before blood tests show if there has been a hospital blunder.· The tests are due to be carried out over the next fortnight but parents will face a six-week wait for the results.· They will now face a six week wait for the results of the tests.· Customers face a long wait before they have a chance of getting any money back.· They face an anxious wait over the weekend to see whether the farm, at Woolstone, is infected.
· There were pitched battles, so they lay in wait for you.· Everywhere, finally, social revolution lies in wait, showing its colours and sharpening its demands.· An ant-lion larva lies in wait at the bottom of its specially constructed pit.· They will lie in wait for you.· They also lie in wait and whip out an arm to seize the crab with their suckers.· Some real bargains lie in wait amongst the never-ending maze of stalls.· He ended up sinking into the madness that lies in wait for those who think too much about death.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle► wait a minute/just a minute/hold on a minute/hang on a minute
a period of time in which you wait for something to happen, someone to arrive etcwait for- A student helicopter pilot wallowing around in a hover in a tight clearing is an accident waiting to happen.
- Another way of putting it would be that the dollar is an accident waiting to happen.
- Mr Stewart said that there was an accident waiting to happen and he feared lives would be lost.
- People living near the site say it was an accident waiting to happen.
- Unless, of course, it was an accident waiting to happen.
- Lott kept us waiting for 40 minutes while he attended another meeting.
- She was annoyed because she had been kept waiting.
- But who knows also the beauty which lies in wait hereabouts, which led Williams and Bingley to make the climb?
- Everywhere, finally, social revolution lies in wait, showing its colours and sharpening its demands.
- He lay in wait for his father and wounded him terribly.
- Life had always pulsated; death for ever lay in wait.
- One month ago, each new day had lain in wait to ambush Gabriel: he had woken up cringing.
- She lay in wait for pain, expecting no rewards from people, and this made her a hopelessly disconcerting friend.
- Some real bargains lie in wait amongst the never-ending maze of stalls.
- There were pitched battles, so they lay in wait for you.
- Dagenham's employees can only hope that Ford does not resurrect the phrase in the 1990s.
- Hamilton can only hope he improves as much as Benes has since the Padres traded him.
- Like the steeplechase where Vronsky breaks his mare's back with reckless riding, you can only wait for the pistol shot.
- The scientists can only wait and hope.
- Users can only hope the vendors will apply the same effort to other unresolved technology issues.
- We can only hope Gilstrap won't push to have any of that text deleted.
- We can only wait and help each other and watch this dreadful plague spread.
- You can only hope they learned from their mistakes.
- He stopped by on his night off, was let in the stage door, and stood in the wings.
- None the less, there are always people waiting in the wings to discredit a positive image.
- On Concorde, though, the engines are embedded in the wings, next to the fuel tanks.
- Platt has had to wait in the wings because he is one of four foreign players fighting for the permitted three places.
- The local chapter leaders waiting in the wings seemed upset.
- There were no wealthy aunts or uncles waiting in the wings.
The average wait for an appointment at the clinic was eight weeks.long/three-hour/two-week etc wait There was an hour wait before the next train departed. They’ll have a long wait. → lie in wait at lie1(8)