Wait

Quick meaning: Wait is a verb meaning (intransitive) To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.

Meaning

(intransitive) To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive, stative, US) To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.
2. (transitive, now rare) To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)
3. (transitive, obsolete) To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.
4. (intransitive) To remain faithful to one’s partner or betrothed during a prolonged period of absence.
5. (obsolete) To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany.
6. (obsolete, colloquial) To defer or postpone (especially a meal).
7. (obsolete, except in phrases) To watch with malicious intent; to lie in wait

Example Sentences

to wait one’s turn

She used to wait in this joint.

Wait here until your car arrives.

They also serve who only stand and wait.

Word Forms

• waits
• waiting
• waited
• waitest
• waitedst
• waiteth
• waight

Synonyms for wait

Depending on context, synonyms include await, serve, bestand, tend, attend, escort.

Antonyms for wait

Common opposites include act, grasp.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include await, postponement, delay, time lag, hold, expect.

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