wait
verb /weɪt/
/weɪt/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they wait | /weɪt/ /weɪt/ |
| he / she / it waits | /weɪts/ /weɪts/ |
| past simple waited | /ˈweɪtɪd/ /ˈweɪtɪd/ |
| past participle waited | /ˈweɪtɪd/ /ˈweɪtɪd/ |
| -ing form waiting | /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to stay where you are or delay doing something until somebody/something comes or something happens
- She rang the bell and waited.
- The President agreed to speak to the waiting journalists.
- They waited patiently while I got ready.
- I waited and waited, but the bus didn't come.
- wait + adv./prep. Have you been waiting long?
- to wait (for) hours/days/weeks/months/years
- I’ve been waiting (for) twenty minutes.
- I'll wait outside until the meeting's over.
- (especially North American English) I had to wait in line at the bank.
- wait for somebody/something Wait for me!
- to wait for a bus
- I'm still waiting for the results of my blood test.
- He smiled, waiting for an answer to his question.
- wait for somebody/something to do something We're waiting for the rain to stop before we go out.
- wait to do something Hurry up! We're waiting to go.
- We'll have to wait until it stops raining.
- wait your turn You'll just have to wait your turn (= wait until your turn comes).
Homophones wait | weightwait weight/weɪt//weɪt/- wait verb
- You won't have to wait long—the next train is in five minutes.
- wait noun
- It was an anxious wait, but finally she found out that she'd passed.
- weight noun
- He has lost a lot of weight.
- weight verb
- Weight the tablecloth down so that it doesn't move or blow away.
Extra Examples- He sat waiting to board the plane.
- We're waiting to hear back from them.
- We had several months of waiting for something to happen.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a while
- long
- forever
- …
- have to
- must
- can hardly
- …
- for
- till
- until
- …
- can’t afford to wait
- keep somebody waiting
- wait a long time
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to hope or watch for something to happen, especially for a long time
- wait for something Leeds United had waited for success for eighteen years.
- This is just the opportunity I've been waiting for.
- They are waiting for the right moment to make their move.
- wait for somebody/something to do something He's waiting for me to make a mistake.
- wait to do something I've been waiting a long time to say that to her.
- wait your chance I waited my chance and slipped out when no one was looking.
- We simply cannot afford to wait any longer.
- I waited with bated breath for what would happen next.
Extra Examples- Their parents waited anxiously for news.
- She had to wait a long time for the right man to come along.
- They waited in vain for a response.
- We can't wait forever.
- You might have to wait a while before you get an answer.
- You'll have to wait until you're older.
- He was just waiting for the chance to make fun of me.
- I kept waiting for it to get better but it did not.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a while
- long
- forever
- …
- have to
- must
- can hardly
- …
- for
- till
- until
- …
- can’t afford to wait
- keep somebody waiting
- wait a long time
- …
- be waiting[intransitive] (of things) to be ready for somebody to have or use
- Your car is waiting, sir.
- When we arrived on the platform, there was a train waiting.
- wait for somebody There's a letter waiting for you at home.
- There was a nice surprise waiting for me when I got back.
- wait to do something The hotel had a taxi waiting to collect us.
- [intransitive] to be left to be dealt with at a later time because immediate action is not needed
- I've got some calls to make but they can wait until tomorrow.
- I'm afraid this can't wait. It's very important.
- We've just spent a fortune on a new roof, so the new car is going to have to wait.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old Northern French waitier, of Germanic origin; related to the verb wake. Early senses included ‘lie in wait (for)’, ‘observe carefully’, and ‘be watchful’.
Idioms
an accident/a disaster waiting to happen
- a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave
- Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen.
(waiting) in the wings
- ready to take over a particular job or be used in a particular situation when needed
- She was aware of a whole host of ambitious young managers waiting in the wings.
- There's a wealth of talent waiting in the wings of British theatre.
I, they, etc. can’t wait/can hardly wait
- used when you are emphasizing that somebody is very excited about something or keen to do it
- The children can't wait for Christmas to come.
- I can hardly wait to see him again.
Extra Examples- I can't wait to see their new baby.
- I can hardly wait for my holiday!
- I could hardly wait for the weekend.
keep somebody waiting
- to make somebody have to wait or be delayed, especially because you arrive late
- I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
let the dust settle | wait for the dust to settle
- to wait for a situation to become clear or certain
- He waited for the dust to settle after the election before making any new decisions.
wait and see
- used to tell somebody that they must be patient and wait to find out about something later
- We'll just have to wait and see—there's nothing we can do at the moment.
- a wait-and-see policy
- ‘Where are we going?’ ‘Wait and see!’
Extra Examples- You'll just have to wait and see what you present is.
- We'll wait and see what the weather's like before we make a decision.
wait at table
- (formal) to serve food to people, for example at a formal mealTopics Cooking and eatingc2
wait for it (informal, especially British English)
- used to say that you are about to tell somebody something that is surprising
- They're off on a trip, to—wait for it—the Maldives!
- used to tell somebody not to start doing something yet, but to wait until you tell them
wait a minute/moment/second
- to wait for a short time
- Can you wait a second while I make a call?
- Hey! Wait a minute! I'll come with you!
- used when you have just noticed or remembered something, or had a sudden idea
- Wait a minute—this isn't the right key.
wait on somebody hand and foot
- (disapproving) to take care of somebody’s needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves
- He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot.
wait tables
- (North American English) to work serving food to people in a restaurantTopics Cooking and eatingc2
wait till/until… (informal)
- used to show that you are very excited about telling or showing something to somebody
- Wait till you see what I've found!
- used to threaten to punish somebody or do something bad to them
- Wait till I get my hands on him!
what are we waiting for?
- (informal) used to suggest that you should all start doing what you have been discussingTopics Suggestions and advicec1
what are you waiting for?
- (informal) used to tell somebody to do something now rather than later
- If the car needs cleaning, what are you waiting for?
(just) you wait
- used to emphasize a threat, warning or promise
- I'll be famous one day, just you wait!