- 1
[intransitive, transitive] to stay where you are or delay doing something until someone or something comes or something happens She rang the bell and waited. The president agreed to speak to the waiting journalists. + adv./prep. Have you been waiting long? I've been waiting (for) twenty minutes. I'll wait outside until the meeting's over. wait for somebody/something Wait for me! 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. wait your turn You'll just have to wait your turn (= wait until your turn comes).
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- 2
[intransitive, transitive] to hope or watch for something to happen, especially for a long time wait (for something) This is just the opportunity I've been waiting for. wait for somebody/something to do something He's waiting for me to make a mistake.
- 3 be waiting [intransitive] (of things) to be ready for someone to have or use wait (for somebody) There's a letter waiting for you at home. wait to do something The hotel had a taxi waiting to pick us up.
- 4 [intransitive] to be left to be dealt with at a later time because it is not urgent I've got some calls to make but they can wait until tomorrow. I'm afraid this can't wait. It's very important. Idioms
- 1to wait for a short time Can you wait a second while I make a call?
- 2used when you have just noticed or remembered something, or had a sudden idea Wait a minute — this isn't the right key.
verb jump to other results
NAmE//weɪt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they wait he / she / it waits
past simple waited
-ing form waiting
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
ready to take over a particular job or be used in a particular situation when needed A whole host of ambitious young managers were waiting in the wings.
used when you are emphasizing that someone 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.
to make someone have to wait or be delayed, especially because you arrive late I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
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.
used to tell someone 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!”
to take care of someone'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.
to work serving food to people in a restaurant
used to show that you are very excited about telling or showing something to someone Wait till you see what I found!
used to suggest that you should all start doing what you have been discussing
used to tell someone to do something now rather than later If the car needs to be cleaned, what are you waiting for?
used to emphasize a threat, warning, or promise I'll be famous one day, just you wait! Phrasal Verbswait aroundwait onwait outwait up
Check pronunciation: wait