as in staying
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly
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as in delay
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waiting
Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
With a burgeoning Ugandan population more than doubling in just 25 years to 50 million today, health care for the most vulnerable children, for example, is increasingly a waiting game.
—Brian Simpson, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Because the windows and doors are custom-made, waiting times can vary, but, typically, the process can take about a month.
—Liz Ohanesian, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
That’s the year Clayton Kershaw’s five-year waiting period will expire.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The intention was to show the passion for each other, and that this is the culmination of all the waiting and longing and yearning.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2025
Too often, entrepreneurs hold back until every detail seems perfect, but waiting can mean being erased.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Unlike line-waiting at other Texas joints, though, queuing up at Snow’s is an experience unto itself.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
If the rezoning application is denied by the City Council, the applicant could file a new application with major revisions or modifications, but there’s a one year waiting period before anyone can submit the same application on the same property.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
The Lebanese restaurant was a hit in the neighborhood from the outset and was perpetually packed, with crowds of people waiting for a table.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
One of Mendoza’s associates was waiting for them.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Parents lined up on a sidewalk outside Bergen Meadow Elementary, waiting to reunite with their children, exchanging hugs and quiet conversation.
—Katie Langford, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Facing right-hander Jake Woodford, Clemens worked the count hard, waiting for his pitch.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
The attackers opened fire at people waiting at a bus depot, police said, before boarding a bus to continue the attack.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
The kids with the balls spent all that time hunkered down on the stairs, laying low and waiting to be allowed back to their seats.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
The family spent the day waiting for updates as the liver was being flown in from Kansas.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
His jersey and shoulder pads were cut off as trainers placed him on a backboard and carted him toward a waiting ambulance.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
With a burgeoning Ugandan population more than doubling in just 25 years to 50 million today, health care for the most vulnerable children, for example, is increasingly a waiting game.
—Brian Simpson, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Because the windows and doors are custom-made, waiting times can vary, but, typically, the process can take about a month.
—Liz Ohanesian, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
That’s the year Clayton Kershaw’s five-year waiting period will expire.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The intention was to show the passion for each other, and that this is the culmination of all the waiting and longing and yearning.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2025
Too often, entrepreneurs hold back until every detail seems perfect, but waiting can mean being erased.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Unlike line-waiting at other Texas joints, though, queuing up at Snow’s is an experience unto itself.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
If the rezoning application is denied by the City Council, the applicant could file a new application with major revisions or modifications, but there’s a one year waiting period before anyone can submit the same application on the same property.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Malcolm was right there waiting for me out by the pool, with three bottles of champagne in a party cooler.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
The Lebanese restaurant was a hit in the neighborhood from the outset and was perpetually packed, with crowds of people waiting for a table.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
One of Mendoza’s associates was waiting for them.
—ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
Parents lined up on a sidewalk outside Bergen Meadow Elementary, waiting to reunite with their children, exchanging hugs and quiet conversation.
—Katie Langford, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Facing right-hander Jake Woodford, Clemens worked the count hard, waiting for his pitch.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
The attackers opened fire at people waiting at a bus depot, police said, before boarding a bus to continue the attack.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
The kids with the balls spent all that time hunkered down on the stairs, laying low and waiting to be allowed back to their seats.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
The family spent the day waiting for updates as the liver was being flown in from Kansas.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waiting
Verb
-
But whatever the reason, if users aren’t staying, your trust score is going to take a hit.—
Karan Sharma,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The challenge now is not just falling in love against all odds, but staying together in spite of them.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Outdated or missing beneficiary designations are common and can lead to delays, unintended distributions or even disputes among heirs.—
Larry Light,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Reuters — The United Nations Security Council did not adopt a draft resolution on Friday to permanently lift sanctions on Iran, but Tehran and key European powers still have eight days to try and agree to a delay.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As of June 8, 2023, Saturn has 146 moons in its orbit, with others continually awaiting confirmation of their discovery and official naming by the International Astronomical Union.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Investors are awaiting the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which began on Tuesday and will conclude on Wednesday.—
Pia Singh,Chloe Taylor,Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Thriving amid this tumult requires embracing the cycle of struggle and rebirth; redefining your identity around core strengths and not titles, and setting goals that leave no room for procrastination.—
Maggie McGrath,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination.—
Gretchen Rubin,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Still, there was a lingering hesitancy that often got in his way.—
Stephen Galloway,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The performance was impacted by the lingering effects of operational challenges, delivery delays and store closures initiated last year.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Swinney has been openly critical of the evolving college football landscape, showing strong hesitation to bend his long-standing coaching philosophies.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Machiavelli expressed the idea in The Prince that choosing a side—regardless of the outcome—is always better than neutrality, asserting that action preserves options while hesitation loses them.—
Koray Köse,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The remaining 98% can be modified through lifestyle factors like sleep, meditation, exercise, nutrition, and stress management.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
With fuel costs remaining steady the last few months and less expensive than earlier in 2025, the number of states averaging less than $3 per gallon has increased compared to 2024.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Belly’s indecision between Conrad, played by Christopher Briney and Jeremiah, played by Gavin Casalegno, offers an almost cinematic version of desire that fans can mentally enjoy.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Amphibious cars are a monument to indecision, never perfected, always a compromise of some sort but often in their weird way sublime, like the Sea Lion Amphibious Prototype heading for auction this weekend.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waiting. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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