as in to stay
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there was a long wait for the manager to come and help us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wait
Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Coaches could evaluate their whole team during spring ball, rather than wait to sort out starting rotations in the fall.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Dave Skretta, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Her father, Kris, remembers it clearly, and said the wait since then has felt endless.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wait
Verb
This time last year, the Horns stood pat with an offensive line that ended up not performing to lofty expectations and now with only tackles Trevor Goosby and Brandon Baker scheduled to return, fans nervously wait as Sark and his staff go about the business of retooling the roster.
—Noun
Now comes a nervous wait to see whether Efimova and Mitrofanov can compete at the Olympics.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for wait
Verb
-
The best beanies for women are quintessential cold-weather hats that strike a delicate balance between staying warm and looking polished, even when the weather is anything but fashion-friendly.—
-
Kenady Barrett had 14 points and eight assists for Poyen (15-0, 5-0 2A-8), which stayed unbeaten.—
Noun
-
From plane seatback organizers to carry-on cup holders, these accessories can save you from boarding delays and other headaches—starting at $9.—
-
Hi Lab positions HyDee as a response to those challenges by eliminating charging delays associated with battery systems.—
Verb
-
Ultimately, however, the lingering impact of being dragged last summer is known only to the officer – who is said to be experienced, with more than 10 years of service as an ICE deportation officer, according to DHS.—
-
Early next week, a brief warmup returns highs to the 30s before cooler air likely lingers deeper into mid-January.—
Verb
-
Local administrators on Sunday were awaiting further guidance from the state during the quickly evolving situation, said Janna Haynes, a county spokeswoman.—
-
Tapachula returns to normalcy While some migrants remain in Tapachula, gone are the thousands of migrants, including entire families, sleeping on sidewalks, gathered in parks, packed in cheap hotel rooms, or lined up outside banks awaiting money transfers from relatives abroad.—
Verb
-
Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.—
-
While challenges remain for buyers and sellers, housing experts say the market is beginning to stabilize.—
Cite this Entry
“Wait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wait. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share