as in stays
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in delays
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
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Recent Examples of waits
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Fabiana Hernández Ortega waits for a truck delivering milk — a basic staple that has become increasingly scarce.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 5 Jan. 2026
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
The longer that Florida State waits to fire Norvell, the shorter the time the head coach has to look for a new job.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Halloween may be just barely in the rearview, but the holiday season waits for no one.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Helm waits around for the skies to clear.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Electric and natural gas companies are usually regulated by the state and can be told not to shut people off while the state waits to receive its share of the LIHEAP money, Wolfe said.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
The world waits for a compelling example of humanoid robots saving a customer money in a defensible way.
—Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Jason Phillips, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026
The price gap helps explain why more Altadena residents are pursuing rebuilding permits despite longer waits, while fewer Palisades owners are entering the system at all.
—Matthew Specktor, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
From hours-long waits and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds to strict security measures, limited access to food and bathrooms, and freezing temperatures, ringing in the New Year at the Crossroads of the World often demands more endurance than excitement.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
What started for Mike Puma as a hobby of reviewing burgers around the city and making them himself at dozens of popups throughout the city with hours-long waits has beautifully blossomed into a brick-and-mortar one-stop-shop.
—Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
Long waits, often leaving people who need care lingering in jails, have drawn lawsuits in several states, including Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington, where a large 2014 class action case forced systemic changes such as expanding crisis intervention training and residential treatment beds.
—Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
A little boy with a mullet waits at the edge of the boards.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 22 Dec. 2025
Those who don't have proper identification will see longer waits and additional screening at security checkpoints.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport warned travelers of up to three-hour waits for security screening this week.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
But Barkov will not be able to play, and now an entire nation waits with bated breath to find out if Landeskog will be available or not.
—Noun
That said, reasonable preparation can help even those familiar with international payment systems avoid high fees, long waits and general confusion.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits
Verb
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Although indoor poinsettia usually stays relatively compact, outdoor plants can grow over 10 feet tall.—
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Instead, water them once a week, making sure the soil stays moist but never wet.—
Noun
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Bayt Almocha had also been expected to open last summer, but delays pushed that plan back to March.—
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The Covid pandemic snarled airplane assembly at both Boeing and its chief rival, Airbus, with supply chain delays and loss of experienced workers, even after the worst of the health crisis subsided.—
Verb
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Today the sprawling complex is a museum and visitor attraction, where a sense of unease lurks along paved tourist trails and lingers in dark corridors.—
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Early next week, a brief warmup returns highs to the 30s before cooler air likely lingers deeper into mid-January.—
Verb
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Miami now awaits the winner of Friday’s other semifinal matchup, the Peach Bowl, between Indiana and Oregon.—
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Altadena awaits the official cause of the Eaton fire, but survivors and plaintiff attorneys in hundreds of lawsuits point to the public utility Southern California Edison as being at fault for its equipment and mismanagement sparking the blaze in the foothills above the town.—
Verb
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The Henderson County Sheriff's Office remains committed to seeking justice for victims and their families—no matter how much time has passed.—
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One year after two major wildfires tore through opposite sides of Los Angeles County, recovery for thousands of families remains far from complete.—
Cite this Entry
“Waits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waits. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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