wait
wait
I
/ˈweıt/ verb , waits, wait·ed, wait·ing
1 [ no obj ] : to stay in a place until an expected event happens, until someone arrives, until it is your turn to do something, etc.
I hate waiting in long lines.
They waited at the train station together.
You should have waited a little longer. He showed up right after you left.
I don't have time to wait around. If he's not here in five minutes, I'm leaving.
She waited behind after class to talk to the professor.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. How may I help you?
I waited and waited but he never showed up.
— often followed by to + verb
I'm waiting to use the bathroom.
The taxi is waiting to bring us to the airport.
Doctors are ready and waiting to give aid.
— often + for
She read the newspaper while waiting for the bus.
Wait for me! I'll go with you.
Take a seat and wait for your name to be called.
It can take over an hour to be served at the restaurant, but the food is worth waiting for.
2 : to not do something until something else happens
[ no obj ] Wait! Don't start the engine yet.
We waited for the sun to set before starting the fire.
— often + until
We'll wait until you come back to start the movie. [=we will not start the movie until you come back]
[ + obj ] You will have to wait your turn. [=you cannot do something until it is your turn]
3 [ no obj ]
3 a : to remain in a state in which you expect or hope that something will happen soon
I know she was happy when I lost my job. She was waiting to see me fail.
I have waited for this opportunity for a long time.
3 b : to remain in a state in which you expect to learn or find out something soon
You will have to wait two weeks for the test results.
She waited for his answer.
We are waiting to hear back from the doctor.
He'll be a star some day–just (you) wait. [=I feel sure that he will be a star some day]
I have to wait and see whether or not I got the job.
“What are you making?” “Wait and see.”
4 [ no obj ] : to be done or dealt with at a later time
The other issues will just have to wait until our next meeting.
“Can this wait until tomorrow?” “No, it can't wait.”
5 [ no obj ] : to be in a place ready to be dealt with, taken, etc.
— always used as (be) waiting
It's time to come inside. Dinner is waiting.
— often + for
There is a package waiting for you at home.
She had several messages waiting for her at the office.
accident waiting to happen — see accident
can't wait (
◇ If you can't wait or can hardly wait, you are very excited about doing something or eager for something to happen or begin.
The concert is tomorrow, and we can hardly wait!
The children can hardly wait for summer.
I can't wait to try your apple pie.
hurry up and wait — see hurry, 1
wait a minute/moment/second
1
— used to tell someone to stop and wait briefly
Wait a minute. I need to tie my shoe.
Please wait one moment while I take this call.
If you would just wait a second, I could explain what happened.
2
— used to interrupt someone or something because you have noticed, thought of, or remembered something
Wait a second–that's not what she said.
Wait a minute. I just remembered where I put the keys.
wait at table
Brit formal : to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress
He waited at table for two years.
wait for it
chiefly Brit informal
— used to emphasize that the following statement is foolish, surprising, funny, etc.
He says he was fired because–wait for it–he refused to compromise his principles.
wait in [ phrasal verb ]
Brit : to stay at home and wait for someone or something to arrive
I can't go out. I've got to wait in for a delivery.
wait on (
1 wait on/upon (someone)
1 a : to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress to (someone)
The hostess waits on tables/people when the restaurant is crowded.
1 b : to provide service to (a customer) : to help (a customer) make purchases
He is busy waiting on customers at the moment.
1 c : to act as a servant to (someone)
He seems to expect his wife to wait on him.
She waited on her children hand and foot. [=she acted like a servant to her children; she provided her children with everything they needed or wanted]
2 wait on/upon (someone or something) chiefly US : to wait for (someone or something) to arrive or happen
We waited on him, but he never came.
The government's decision must wait on the committee's report. [=the government's decision will not be made until the committee has issued its report]
wait out [ phrasal verb ]
wait (something) out or wait out (something) : to stay in one place until the end of (something)
We waited out the storm in our hotel room.
wait tables
US : to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress
She has a job waiting tables.
wait until/till
— used to emphasize that a future event is going to be very surprising, important, etc.
Wait till you see their new house. It's just beautiful!
You think you're in trouble now? Just wait until your father finds out what you did, young lady! [=your father will be very angry and will punish you when he finds out what you did]
wait up [ phrasal verb ]
1 : to delay going to bed while you wait for someone to arrive
I'll be late; don't wait up (for me).
2 chiefly US, informal : to stop moving forward so that someone who is behind you can join you
Hey, wait up (for me)! I'm going with you.
what are you waiting for?
— used to say that someone should do something immediately
What are we waiting for? Let's go inside and get something to eat.
If you have so much work to do, then what are you waiting for?
————————
II
noun , pl waits [ count ]
: a period of time when you must wait
— usually singular
There is never a wait at that restaurant.
He had a long wait in line.
The hostess said there would be a 45-minute wait before she could seat us.
The dish takes a long time to prepare, but the results are worth the wait.
lie in wait
: to hide and wait for the right moment to make an attack
The killer may have been lying in wait for him.
— sometimes used figuratively
No one knows what lies in wait for us in the coming year. [=no one knows what will happen to us in the coming year]
