wait
A1Neutral; used across all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
to allow time to pass while staying in one place, or to delay action, in expectation of something.
Also refers to the act of serving people in a restaurant (to wait tables), and can imply deferral, patience, or the condition of being postponed. The noun refers to the period of time spent delaying or the people waiting.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb often implies purpose and expectation, not just the passage of time. As a noun, it can be countable ('a long wait') or uncountable ('a period of wait'). The phrasal verb 'wait on' has different primary meanings in BrE (serve) and AmE (await).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, 'wait for' is standard. 'Wait on' (to serve) is also common. In AmE, 'wait for' is standard, but 'wait on' is often used colloquially to mean 'wait for' ('I'm waiting on a call'). 'Wait tables' (work as a server) is primarily AmE; BrE uses 'work as a waiter/waitress' or 'serve tables'.
Connotations
In both, 'wait' is neutral, but 'wait on' in the sense of 'serve' can have subservient connotations. The AmE use of 'wait on' for 'wait for' is sometimes considered informal or regional.
Frequency
The core verb 'wait' is extremely high frequency in both varieties. 'Wait tables' is significantly more frequent in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
wait (intransitive)wait for + objectwait + to-infinitive (I waited to see.)wait + adverb/preposition (wait here, wait in the car)wait + object (in specialised contexts: wait tables)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “wait and see”
- “wait on hand and foot”
- “wait a minute (expressing objection)”
- “lie in wait”
- “can't wait (to express eagerness)”
- “wait for the other shoe to drop”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We'll have to wait for the board's approval before proceeding.' Refers to necessary delays in processes.
Academic
'The results are not yet significant; we must wait for a larger sample size.' Indicates methodological patience.
Everyday
'Can you wait here while I grab my coat?' The most common, informal instruction.
Technical
'The process enters a wait state until the interrupt signal is received.' In computing, a specific idle state.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please wait in the reception area.
- We're waiting for the rain to stop.
- He works in a restaurant, waiting on tables.
American English
- Please wait in the lobby.
- We're waiting on a delivery. (informal)
- She waited tables to pay for college.
adjective
British English
- The wait staff were very attentive.
- There's a long wait list for that course.
American English
- The wait staff were very busy.
- We're on a waiting list for an apartment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Wait here, please.
- I can't wait for my birthday!
- We waited for the bus.
- You'll just have to wait your turn.
- Wait a second while I find my keys.
- The doctor kept me waiting for 20 minutes.
- The project is on hold as we wait for further funding.
- He waited with bated breath for the exam results.
- They are lying in wait for their competitors' next move.
- The legislation has been in a state of suspended animation, waiting for political will to coalesce.
- He mastered the art of waiting out his opponents in negotiations.
- We await your response with keen interest. (formal synonym)
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WAITER. A waiter must WAIT at the table for your order. Both words share the core idea of staying in place for a purpose.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE BEING SPENT (e.g., 'I don't want to waste any more time waiting'). WAITING IS A BURDEN (e.g., 'The wait weighed heavily on him').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'ждать кого-то' as 'wait somebody' (must be 'wait FOR somebody').
- The noun 'wait' (ожидание) is often less natural than 'waiting' in many contexts (e.g., 'The waiting is the hardest part', not 'The wait is...' in all cases).
- Confusing 'wait' and 'expect'. 'Wait' is physical/time-based; 'expect' is mental (ожидание как предвкушение).
Common Mistakes
- *I am waiting you. (Correct: I am waiting FOR you.)
- *We waited during two hours. (Correct: We waited FOR two hours.)
- Incorrectly using 'wait' transitively outside of 'wait tables'.
- Overusing 'wait on' in AmE to mean 'wait for' in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'wait' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Wait for' is standard in both BrE and AmE for expecting someone/something. 'Wait on' primarily means 'to serve' (BrE & AmE). In informal AmE, 'wait on' can also mean 'wait for'.
Mostly yes, but 'await' is transitive (await something), more formal, and less common in everyday speech. You 'wait for a letter' but 'await a letter' (more formal/written).
Yes. It refers to the period of time spent waiting (e.g., 'a three-hour wait'). It can also refer to a group of people waiting, though this is less common ('a long wait for the toilets').
It's an idiom expressing great eagerness or excitement about something in the future (e.g., 'I can't wait for the holidays!'). It does not literally mean you are unable to wait.