wait
/weɪt
/verb [no object]
1Stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event: he did not wait for a reply we’re waiting for Allan to get back Vera did not wait on a Home Office ruling [with infinitive]: Ben stood on the street corner waiting to cross [with object]: I had to wait my turn to play...
- To get the longest term go for a card deal that waits until the money hits your new account.
- They sat in the large leather armchairs to wait the arrival of the man on whom so much depended.
- I peeked through the window behind my back and saw a young woman waiting in the car.
Synonyms
stand by, hold back, be patient, bide one's time, hang fire, mark time, kill time, waste time, cool one's heels, kick one's heels, twiddle one's thumbs;
pause, stop, cease, halt, discontinue, rest
informal hold on, hang around, sit tight, hold one's horses, sweat it out
British informal hang about
await, look/watch out;
anticipate, expect, be ready, be in readiness;
long for, hope for, count the days until
1.1 (wait for or on) Stay where one is or delay action until (someone) arrives or is ready: he sits on the corner waiting for Mary she was waiting on her boyfriend
1.2Be left until a later time before being dealt with: we shall need a statement later, but that will have to wait...
- Signing Dillon to a long-term deal is a priority, but it will wait until the off season.
- Postpone those decisions that can wait until you feel more able to deal with them.
- Subtitled ‘another side of Cirque du Soleil,’ this one'll have to wait till the kids are in bed.
Synonyms
be postponed, be delayed, be put off, be held back, be deferred
informal be put on the back burner, be put on ice
1.3 [with object] informal Defer (a meal) until a person’s arrival: I told my parents not to wait supper...
- He'd kept everything warm in the oven for her and Ashton agreed to wait dinner on her as he wasn't hungry.
Synonyms
delay, postpone, put off, hold off, hold back, defer
2Remain in readiness for a purpose: he found the train waiting on the platform...
- At the road end our bus was waiting to take us back to Te Anau and the end of a memorable experience.
- It isn't too far from here, and he'll probably have some food waiting when we get there.
- There was a taxi waiting where the aircraft came to a halt so that they could avoid the muddy dirt of the airfield.
Synonyms
stay, remain, rest, linger, loiter, dally, stop, stay put
informal stick around, kick around/about
archaic bide, tarry
2.1(Of a vehicle) be parked for a short time at the side of a road.The firm must stop vehicles waiting at the junction of Hill Top Lane and Chorley Old Road by putting yellow lines down....
- The landscaping scheme will link in with a new footpath and cycleway at the back of the Fox and a new bus waiting area on Holgate Road.
- Motorists can wait for free until arriving passengers call to say they are ready to be picked up.
3 (cannot wait) Used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen: I can’t wait to tell Nick what happened...
- My head was full of ideas for my new design all day and I couldn't wait to get home and try them out.
- It was my first present from him and I felt so gorgeous in it that I couldn't wait to show it off.
- Some people here couldn't wait to get rid of him, but look at what he has achieved.
4Act as a waiter or waitress, serving food and drink: a local man was employed to wait on them at table [with object]: we had to wait tables in the mess hall...
- Seneca ridiculed a wealthy man because he kept a handsome slave who was dressed like a woman when he waited at table.
- He was one of the footmen who waited at table.
- If the truth be known, waiting tables was my only income.
noun
1 [in singular] A period of waiting: we had a long wait...
- Show up early, because no matter what time you go, there will be an interminable wait.
- Unfortunately, a train has just left the station, and it will be quite a wait for the next one.
- Desperate motorists say they face an hour wait when trying to leave the car park at the end of the day.
Synonyms
delay, hold-up, period of waiting, interval, interlude, intermission, pause, break, stay, cessation, suspension, detention, check, stoppage, halt, interruption, lull, respite, recess, postponement, discontinuation, moratorium, hiatus, gap, lapse, rest, entr'acte
2 (waits) archaic Street singers of Christmas carols.Originally they were mummers, performing traditional plays, and they then became known as waits, who would tour the town every evening before Christmas.
2.1 historical Official bands of musicians maintained by a city or town.He wrote music for the London theatres in the early part of the 17th century, and in 1622 joined the waits of the City of London.
Phrases
in wait
wait and see
wait for it
you wait
Phrasal verbs
wait on (or upon)
wait up
Origin
Middle English: from Old Northern French waitier, of Germanic origin; related to wake1. Early senses included 'lie in wait (for'), 'observe carefully', and 'be watchful'.