verb

wait

wayt

verb

To stay in one place or delay acting until something happens.

"We waited an hour for the bus to arrive."

"Please wait here until your name is called."

To work serving customers at tables, especially in a restaurant.

"She waited tables all through university to pay her rent."

interjection

Used to tell someone to pause or stop for a moment.

""Wait, I think I left my keys inside!""

How to Use Wait

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo stay put until something happens, or (as a phrase) to serve tables.

Common mistake

"Wait for" needs the preposition when there's an object: "wait for the bus", not "wait the bus".

Common pairings

wait for wait tables wait in line worth the wait

Word Forms

waited past tense, wait plural, waited plural, Waits plural, waits singular, wait singular, waited singular, waitest singular, waitedst singular, waiteth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

We _____ an hour for the bus to arrive.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman "waiter" (to watch or guard), from a Frankish word for "watch" — related to the modern word "watch" itself.

Synonyms

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await wait for serve tend postpone abide back that train up bide bide one's time expect hang on hold on

Antonyms

act grasp grasp the nettle jump at the chance go it blind jump on jump the gun shoot first and ask questions later

Related Words

abdicate abide take action law catch stay understand

Rhymes for wait

gait bait lait Cait Fait trait await plait strait parfait portrait

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await wait for serve tend postpone abide back that train up bide bide one's time expect hang on hold on