wait

1 /weIt/ verb

1 DELAY/NOT START STH (I) to not do something or go somewhere until something else happens, someone arrives etc: Hurry up! Everyone's waiting. | Wait right here until I come back. | wait for sth/sb: We had to wait over an hour for the bus. | wait until: They'll just have to wait until I'm ready. | wait for 3 hours/2 weeks etc: Where have you been? I've been waiting for ages. | wait to do sth: Are you waiting to use the phone? | keep sb waiting (=make someone wait, especially by arriving late): I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

2 EXPECT STH TO HAPPEN (I) to expect something to happen that has not happened yet: “Have you heard about the job?” “No, I'm still waiting.” | wait for sth: I'm still waiting for my test results. | wait for sb to do sth/wait for sth to happen: I'm just waiting for him to realize how stupid he's been.

3 wait a minute/second/moment etc spoken

a) used to stop someone for a short time when they are leaving or starting to do something: Wait a second, I'll get my coat and come with you.

b) used to interrupt someone, especially because you do not agree with what they are saying: Wait a minute! That's not what we agreed!

c) used when you suddenly remember or notice something: Wait a moment, I'm sure I know her name.

4 I can't wait/I can hardly wait informal

a) used when you feel excited and impatient about something that is going to happen soon: We're going to Australia on Saturday - I can't wait! | sb can't wait to do sth: Tina can't wait to get home.

(+ for): I can't wait for my vacation.

b) spoken humorous used to say that something seems likely to be very boring: A lecture on transformational grammar? I can hardly wait.

5 sth can/can't wait used to say that something is not, or is very urgent: “What's so important? Can't it wait till tomorrow?” “No, it can't.”

6 wait and see especially spoken used to say that someone should be patient because they will find out about something later: sb will have to wait and see: You'll have to wait and see what Father Christmas brings you.

7 wait until/till spoken used when you are excited about telling or showing someone something: Wait till you see Gaby's new house!

8 be waiting if something is waiting for you, it is ready for you to use, collect etc: The report was typed up and waiting when they came back from coffee.

9 wait your turn to stay calm until it is your turn to do something, instead of trying to move ahead of other people

10 sth is (well) worth waiting for spoken used to say that something is very good, even though it takes a long time to come: Their new album was well worth waiting for.

11 (just) you wait spoken used to warn or threaten someone: I'll get you back for what you've done, just you wait.

12 what are you waiting for? spoken used to tell someone to do something immediately: Well, what are you waiting for? Go and apologize.

13 what are we waiting for? spoken used to say in a cheerful way that you think everyone should start doing something immediately

14 wait for it spoken

a) used just before you tell someone something that is funny or surprising: Guess how much he won? Wait for it - $400,000!

b) used to tell someone not to do something until the correct time because they seem very impatient to do it now

15 wait your chance/opportunity (to do sth) to wait until you have the best conditions to succeed in doing something: Wilson was merely waiting his chance to get revenge.

16 be waiting in the wings to be ready to do something if it is necessary or if a suitable time comes

17 wait on tables/wait at table BrE formal wait tables AmE to serve food to people at their table in a restaurant

18 wait dinner/lunch etc (for sb) AmE to delay a meal until someone arrives: Don't wait dinner for me, I'll be home late.

19 (play) a waiting game to do nothing deliberately and wait to see what other people do, in order to get an advantage for yourself

wait around also wait about BrE phrasal verb (I) to stay in the same place and do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen, someone to arrive etc: We waited around at the stage door to try and see the stars. wait behind phrasal verb (I) to stay somewhere after other people have left: Paolo waited behind to speak to her alone. wait in phrasal verb (I) BrE to stay at home and wait there for someone to arrive: I have to wait in for the repair man. wait on sb/sth phrasal verb (T)

1 to serve food to someone at their table, especially in a restaurant

2 to wait for a particular event, piece of information etc, especially before doing something or making a decision: We're waiting on the blood test results.

3 wait on sb hand and foot often humorous to do everything for someone while they do nothing: His wife waits on him hand and foot.

wait sth out phrasal verb (T) if you wait out an event or period or time, especially an unpleasant one, you wait for it to finish: Let's find a place where we can wait out the storm. wait up phrasal verb (I)

1 to wait for someone to return before you go to bed

(+ for): Don't wait up for me - I'll be very late.

2 Wait up! AmE used to tell someone to stop, so that you can talk to them or go with them.

USAGE NOTE: WAIT WORD CHOICE: wait for, await, wait, expect, look forward to If you wait for someone to come or for something to happen, you delay doing something or change what you are doing until they come or it happens. Often you do not do other things because you are waiting: Why are you standing there? I'm waiting for John (to come). | I'm waiting to use that machine. Await is a much more formal word for wait for. If you expect someone or something, you are sure that the person will come or that the event will happen, but you do not necessarily change what you are doing now because of this: We're expecting a cold winter. | What kind of result are you expecting? Waiting is something you do; expecting is a state of mind. If you are expecting something good to happen and feel happy about it, you look forward to it: I'm looking forward to seeing him again. GRAMMAR You wait for something (NOT wait it). But you await something (NOT await for it). 2 noun (singular) a period of time in which you wait for something to happen, someone to arrive etc (+ for): We then faced a six-month wait for the results to arrive. —see also: lie in wait lie 1 (6)