noun
Very common
waiting
WAY-tihng
Waiting (noun) means the act of remaining somewhere until something happens. Example: “Waiting at the station in the cold made everyone grumpy.”
noun
1
The act of remaining somewhere until something happens.
"Waiting at the station in the cold made everyone grumpy."
"There is no point in waiting for the perfect moment to start."
"Waiting for any news in a waiting room. (gerund)"
"The waiting was the hardest part of the whole process."
How to use waiting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe state or action of staying somewhere until an expected event occurs.
Common pairings
waiting room
waiting list
the waiting game
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Word forms
- Plural
- waitings
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_____ at the station in the cold made everyone grumpy.
Etymology
From Middle English "waitynge", formed from "wait" plus the "-ing" ending.
Related words
Rhymes for waiting
See all rhymes for waiting →Frequently asked questions
What does “waiting” mean?
The word “waiting” means the act of remaining somewhere until something happens. In plain terms, the state or action of staying somewhere until an expected event occurs.
How do you pronounce “waiting”?
“Waiting” is pronounced WAY-tihng ([ˈweɪ̯ɾɪŋ] in IPA).
How do you use “waiting” in a sentence?
Here is “waiting” used in a sentence: “The waiting was the hardest part of the whole process.”
What part of speech is “waiting”?
“Waiting” is a noun.
Where does the word “waiting” come from?
The word “waiting” comes from Middle English. From Middle English "waitynge", formed from "wait" plus the "-ing" ending.
Is “waiting” a common word?
“Waiting” is a very common word in modern English.
What is an example of waiting?
Everyday examples include sitting in a doctor's waiting room until your name is called, standing in a queue at a shop, or staying by the phone until a call comes. In each case, waiting is the act of remaining in place, usually pausing your activity, until an expected event finally happens.
What is the difference between waiting and delay?
Waiting is what a person does — remaining somewhere until something happens. A delay is the cause: an event occurring later than planned. You wait because of a delay. For example, a delayed train leaves passengers waiting on the platform. One is the action; the other is the hold-up behind it.
Is waiting a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a verb it is the "-ing" form of "wait" ("she is waiting outside"). As a noun, "waiting" names the act itself ("the waiting was unbearable") and appears in set phrases like "waiting room," "waiting list," and "lady-in-waiting." The core meaning stays close in either use.
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