as in stays
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in delays
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
there was a long wait for the manager to come and help us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of waits
Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026
As Irma, who painfully waits for news of the fate of her family, Gardner embodies the agony — her performance is a quiet, simmering slow burn that shows both despair and hope.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Everyone moves up, then stands and waits for the next surge.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
In Puerto Rico, everyone just puts up tents, waits 10 minutes, and keeps going.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Hourslong waits and flight cancellations continued at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, as the partial government shutdown and storms wreak havoc on air travel.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
The world waits for a compelling example of humanoid robots saving a customer money in a defensible way.
—Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Hypnotized by the American Dream, Luke struggles to recognize the futility of a system that moves fast and waits for no one.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024
Eve Chen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
As more Transportation Security Administration agents called out from work, there was increasing frustration for air travelers confronted by long waits at some airport security lines.
—Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The move allowed the Senate to effectively end the shutdown and leave town for its preplanned recess, while also alleviating the long waits at airports throughout the country ahead of a time of heavy travel in early April for Easter and Passover.
—Justin Papp,garrett Downs, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Plan reviews through a private provider like Inspected average 48-hour turnaround times, contrasting sharply with the months-long waits that once characterized the process of working directly with building departments.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Comfort can be hard to find in the past month, as the partial government shutdown has more and more TSA agents calling out of work, leading to long waits to get through security.
—Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Some families have described poor food and long waits for medical attention.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
However, long waits to access shelter or see a mental health professional, along with workforce shortages, already limit access.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Security lines overflowed from the terminal in the early morning, then shrank to minimal waits later in the morning.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Over the next five decades, Florentino waits for Fermina, sustaining his devotion by writing her hundreds of letters.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026
As Irma, who painfully waits for news of the fate of her family, Gardner embodies the agony — her performance is a quiet, simmering slow burn that shows both despair and hope.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Everyone moves up, then stands and waits for the next surge.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
In Puerto Rico, everyone just puts up tents, waits 10 minutes, and keeps going.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Hourslong waits and flight cancellations continued at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, as the partial government shutdown and storms wreak havoc on air travel.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
The world waits for a compelling example of humanoid robots saving a customer money in a defensible way.
—Jeff Mahler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Hypnotized by the American Dream, Luke struggles to recognize the futility of a system that moves fast and waits for no one.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
Some restaurants, like l’Entrecôte de Paris, which is known for its steak frites (fries), only accept walk-ups and in-person waits.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
As more Transportation Security Administration agents called out from work, there was increasing frustration for air travelers confronted by long waits at some airport security lines.
—Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The move allowed the Senate to effectively end the shutdown and leave town for its preplanned recess, while also alleviating the long waits at airports throughout the country ahead of a time of heavy travel in early April for Easter and Passover.
—Justin Papp,garrett Downs, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Plan reviews through a private provider like Inspected average 48-hour turnaround times, contrasting sharply with the months-long waits that once characterized the process of working directly with building departments.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Comfort can be hard to find in the past month, as the partial government shutdown has more and more TSA agents calling out of work, leading to long waits to get through security.
—Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Some families have described poor food and long waits for medical attention.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
However, long waits to access shelter or see a mental health professional, along with workforce shortages, already limit access.
—Kaelyn Lara, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Security lines overflowed from the terminal in the early morning, then shrank to minimal waits later in the morning.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits
Verb
-
Pool first, oak tree stays In many luxury builds, outdoor spaces are the final flourish.—
David Caraccio
April 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Paradise Guest Ranch Buffalo, Wyoming The century-old Paradise Guest Ranch offers weeklong family stays during the summer and adult-exclusive weeks when the kids go back to school.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Caltrans advised drivers to use the prior exit to reach their destinations and avoid delays.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Police said to expect delays in the area and that all traffic eastbound is being detoured onto exit 40.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the premiere, Aunt Lydia’s promise lingers over Offred’s head like the blade of a guillotine.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Thus, the question lingers—If removing Steve Bannon from the CPAC speaker lineup results in getting AT&T as an event sponsor instead of Patriot Mobile, is that a win or a loss for MAGA?—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Actually landing on the Moon awaits much more work.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Since then, May’s team has gone 35-3, winning the Big Ten regular season title comfortably and then cruising into the Final Four where a matchup against Arizona awaits on Saturday night.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators said the fire caused millions of dollars in damage to the Target location, which remains closed for repairs.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The reason Cipriani moved against Shell the first time remains a matter of speculation.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waits. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
