wait

verb
UK: /weɪt/
US: /weɪt/

  1. To stay in one place or delay doing something until something else happens or someone arrives.

    1. Please wait here, I'll be back soon. [ ] [ ]
    2. We had to wait ages for the bus to arrive in the storm. [ ] [ ]

  2. To delay acting or speaking until you know more about a situation.

    1. Let's wait and see what happens next week. [ ] [ ]
    2. I think we should wait before making a final decision about the project. [ ] [ ]

  3. To look forward to something that is going to happen.

    1. I can't wait for my birthday party. [ ] [ ]
    2. She's waiting with excitement for her exam results next month. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

expect await stop stay delay linger postpone hold bide pause
wait noun

  1. A period of time when you are waiting.

    1. There was a long wait at the doctor's office. [ ] [ ]
    2. After a short wait, our flight finally began to board passengers. [ ] [ ]
wait interjection

  1. Used to tell someone to stop or pause what they are doing or saying.

    1. Wait! I forgot my keys in the house. [ ] [ ]
    2. Wait a minute, I need to think about what you just said. [ ] [ ]
wait intransitive-verb

  1. To serve as a waiter or waitress.

    1. He used to wait tables at a local restaurant. [ ] [ ]
    2. She's waiting on customers at the coffee shop to earn some money. [ ] [ ]
wait transitive-verb

  1. To postpone or delay something.

    1. Let's wait dinner until your father arrives. [ ] [ ]
    2. I have to wait my dentist appointment until next Tuesday. [ ] [ ]
wait phrasal-verb

  1. wait for - to delay acting until someone or something arrives or something happens.

    1. We need to wait for the rain to stop. [ ] [ ]
    2. I will wait for you at the station after your class. [ ] [ ]

  2. wait on - to serve someone in a shop or restaurant.

    1. The waiter waited on us politely. [ ] [ ]
    2. I waited on tables to pay for my college tuition fees. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "wait" in English means: To stay in one place or delay doing something until something else happens or someone arrives., To delay acting or speaking until you know more about a situation., To look forward to something that is going to happen..

The phonetic transcription of "wait" is /weɪt/ in British English and /weɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "wait": expect, await, stop, stay, delay, linger, postpone, hold, bide, pause.

Example usage of "wait": "Please wait here, I'll be back soon.". More examples on the page.