definition of 

wait

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verb [intransitive]  /weɪt/ 

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present tense
I/you/we/they	wait
he/she/it	waits
present participle	waiting
past tense	waited
past participle	waited

phrases

• something can/cannot wait

  used for saying that something does not need to be done now/needs to be done now

  I need to talk to you and I’m afraid it can’t wait.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hurry up, come on, get a move on, there’s no time to lose, get/put your skates on... more

• someone can’t wait/can hardly wait

  used for saying someone is very excited about something that they expect will happen

  I can’t wait for the holidays.

  Marlene can hardly wait to go to the beach again.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: pleasure, excitement, enthusiasm, delight, anticipation... more

• just wait until/till

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for saying that someone should be patient for a moment

     Just wait until I’ve finished this story.

     Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hold on, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us... more
  2. 2

     used for saying someone will be very surprised or happy when they see something

     Just wait till you see how she’s grown!

     Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hold on, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us... more
  3. 3

     just (you) wait (until/till)

     used for telling someone that they will be in trouble if they do not stop behaving badly

     Just you wait till your father gets home.

     Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: watch it, or else, if someone isn’t careful, do you want something?, don’t even think about/of doing something... more

• keep someone waiting

  to make someone stay in one place or do nothing until you are ready to see or talk to them

  We were kept waiting outside his office for over an hour.

  Don’t keep me waiting for an answer.

  wait for someone/something to do something:

  Rescue teams were waiting for the weather to improve.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: delay, set back, hold up, stall, put off... more

• there’s no time to wait

  spoken
  used for saying that you must do something immediately

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hurry up, come on, get a move on, there’s no time to lose, get/put your skates on... more

• wait a minute/second

  spoken
  1. 1

     used for telling someone to be patient while you think

     Oh, wait a minute, I’m trying to remember her name.

     Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: I’m sorry, just a minute/moment/second, hang on/hold on a minute, I hate to bother/interrupt/trouble etc you, hang about... more
  2. 2

     used for telling someone to stop and wait for you

     Wait a minute – I have to tie my shoe.

     Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hold on, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us... more
  3. 3

     used for expressing surprise about something that has just happened or been said, usually something that seems wrong

     Wait a second, wasn’t Jackie supposed to be here?

     Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: funnily enough, you don’t say, heavens above, Well, I never (did), is that a fact?... more
  4. 4

     used for saying that you disagree with what someone is saying or doing, or that you want them to listen to you

     Wait a minute, that’s not what I said!

     Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: I’m sorry, just a minute/moment/second, hang on/hold on a minute, I hate to bother/interrupt/trouble etc you, hang about... more

• wait and see

  to stay calm and delay doing something until you see what happens

  Let’s just wait and see what they have to say.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hang back, waver, stall, dither, um and ah... more

• wait at table/on tables

  to serve food to people in a restaurant or café

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: more

• wait for it

  British informal
  used for saying that you are about to tell someone about something silly, funny, or surprising

  Tonight’s lucky winner will go away with a cheque for – wait for it – £100,000!

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hold on, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us... more

• wait in line

  American
  to queue

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: queue, line up, push in, join a line/queue, first come, first served... more

• wait your turn

  to wait in a patient way for your opportunity to have or to do something

  You’ll just have to wait your turn like everyone else.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: queue, line up, push in, join a line/queue, first come, first served... more

• waiting in the wings/waiting (for) your chance

  to be prepared for an opportunity to do something that you have wanted to do for a long time

  Another group of young skaters is waiting in the wings.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: stand by, brace, steel yourself, all systems go, be ripe for something... more

• waiting to happen

  used for saying that something very bad is likely to develop from a particular situation

  There may be more riots waiting to happen.

  It’s an accident waiting to happen.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: await, threaten, be heading/headed for something, lie ahead/before/in store, loom... more

• what are you waiting for?

  spoken
  used for telling someone that they should do something immediately, and not delay

  What are you waiting for? Jump in!

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hurry up, come on, get a move on, there’s no time to lose, get/put your skates on... more

• something will have to wait

  used for saying that there is no time to do something now and it will have to be done later

  I’m afraid plans for the party will have to wait.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hold on, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us... more

phrasal verbs

wait around

or wait about

[intransitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	wait around
he/she/it	waits around
present participle	waiting around
past tense	waited around
past participle	waited around

to do nothing because you are expecting something to happen, and you cannot do anything until it does

wait around for:

I don’t feel like waiting around for him to decide.

Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: delay, hesitate, put off, hold off, sit on... more

wait behind

[intransitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	wait behind
he/she/it	waits behind
present participle	waiting behind
past tense	waited behind
past participle	waited behind

to stay somewhere after everyone else has left

He decided to wait behind and help clean up.

Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: remain, stay, keep, linger, stand... more

wait in

[intransitive] British

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present tense
I/you/we/they	wait in
he/she/it	waits in
present participle	waiting in
past tense	waited in
past participle	waited in

to stay at home because you expect someone to come or to telephone you

wait in for:

I have to wait in for a delivery this morning.

Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: remain, stay, keep, linger, stand... more

wait on

[transitive]

Close

present tense
I/you/we/they	wait on
he/she/it	waits on
present participle	waiting on
past tense	waited on
past participle	waited on

1. 1

   wait on someone to serve people in a restaurant

   What do we have to do to get waited on here?

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: serve, attend to, ring up, overcharge, clerk... more

   1. a.

      wait on someone hand and foot to do everything for someone so that they do not have to do anything for themselves

      Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: spoil, pamper, cherish, cosset, fuss over... more
2. 2

   wait on something to wait for a particular thing to happen

   Foreign investors are waiting on election results there.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: delay, hesitate, put off, hold off, sit on... more

wait out

[transitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	wait out
he/she/it	waits out
present participle	waiting out
past tense	waited out
past participle	waited out

to stay where you are until something ends, usually something bad

Let’s go to the basement and wait out the storm there.

Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: remain, stay, keep, linger, stand... more

wait up

[intransitive]

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present tense
I/you/we/they	wait up
he/she/it	waits up
present participle	waiting up
past tense	waited up
past participle	waited up

1. 1

   to not go to sleep until someone comes home

   wait up for:

   Don’t wait up for me, I’ll be very late tonight.

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: more
2. 2

   American spoken used for asking or telling someone to stop so that you can speak to them or walk with them

   Synonyms or related words for this meaning of wait: hold on, hang on/hold on a minute, just a minute/moment/second, let me see/think, bear with me/us... more