亚洲网紅露点

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View synonyms for

wait

[ weyt ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until ):

    to wait for the bus to arrive.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  2. (of things) to be available or in readiness:

    A letter is waiting for you.

  3. to remain neglected for a time:

    a matter that can wait.

  4. to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed:

    We waited a week and then bought the house. Your vacation will have to wait until next month.

  5. to look forward to eagerly:

    I'm just waiting for the day somebody knocks him down.



verb (used with object)

  1. to continue in expectation of; await:

    I sat nervously on the bench, waiting my turn to audition.

  2. to postpone or delay in expectation:

    Don't wait supper for me.

  3. Archaic. (of things) to be in readiness for; be reserved for; await:

    Glory waits thee.

  4. Archaic. to attend upon or escort, especially as a sign of respect.

noun

  1. an act or instance of waiting or awaiting; delay; halt:

    a wait at the border.

  2. a period or interval of waiting:

    There will be a long wait between trains.

  3. Theater.
    1. the time between two acts, scenes, or the like.
  4. British.
    1. waits, (formerly) a band of musicians employed by a city or town to play music in parades, for official functions, etc.
    2. a street musician, especially a singer.
    3. one of a band of carolers.
    4. a piece sung by carolers, especially a Christmas carol.
  5. Obsolete. a watchman.

verb phrase

    1. to postpone going to bed to await someone's arrival.
    2. Informal. to halt and wait for another to join one, as in running or walking:

      Wait up, I can't walk so fast.

    1. to perform the duties of an attendant or servant for.
    2. to supply the wants of a person, as serving a meal or serving a customer in a store.
    3. to call upon or visit (a person, especially a superior):

      to wait on Her Majesty at the palace.

    4. Falconry. (of a hawk) to soar over ground until prey appears.
    5. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. to wait for (a person); await.
    6. Also wait upon. to await (an event).

wait

/ 飞别瑟迟 /

verb

  1. whenintr, often foll by for, until, or to to stay in one place or remain inactive in expectation (of something); hold oneself in readiness (for something)
  2. to delay temporarily or be temporarily delayed

    that work can wait

  3. whenintr, usually foll by for (of things) to be in store (for a person)

    success waits for you in your new job

  4. intr to act as a waiter or waitress
鈥淐ollins English Dictionary 鈥 Complete & Unabridged鈥 2012 Digital Edition 漏 William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 漏 HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of waiting
  2. a period of waiting
  3. rare.
    plural a band of musicians who go around the streets, esp at Christmas, singing and playing carols
  4. an interlude or interval between two acts or scenes in a play, etc
  5. lie in wait
    to prepare an ambush (for someone)
鈥淐ollins English Dictionary 鈥 Complete & Unabridged鈥 2012 Digital Edition 漏 William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 漏 HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage Note

Sometimes considered objectionable in standard usage, the idiom wait on meaning 鈥渢o wait for, to await (a person)鈥 is largely confined to speech or written representations of speech. It is most common in the Midland and Southern United States: Let's not wait on Rachel, she's always late. Wait on or upon (an event) does not have a regional pattern and occurs in a wide variety of contexts: We will wait on (or upon ) his answer and make our decision then. The completion of the merger waits upon news of a drop in interest rates.
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亚洲网紅露点 History and Origins

Origin of wait1

First recorded in 1150鈥1200; early Middle English verb waiten, from Anglo-French waitier; Old French guaitier, from Germanic; cognate with Old High German 飞补丑迟脓苍 鈥渢o watch,鈥 derivative of wahta 鈥漚 watch鈥 ( wake 1 )
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亚洲网紅露点 History and Origins

Origin of wait1

C12: from Old French waitier; related to Old High German 飞补丑迟脓苍 to wake 1
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. lie in wait, to wait in ambush:

    The army lay in wait in the forest.

  2. wait table. table ( def 26 ).

More idioms and phrases containing wait

  • can't wait
  • hurry up and wait
  • in waiting
  • lie in wait
  • play a waiting game
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Synonym Study

Wait, tarry imply pausing to linger and thereby putting off further activity until later. Wait usually implies staying for a limited time and for a definite purpose, that is, for something expected: to wait for a train. Tarry is a somewhat archaic word for wait, but it suggests lingering, perhaps aimlessly delaying, or pausing (briefly) in a journey: to tarry on the way home; to tarry overnight at an inn.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Like the books I could not wait to dive into, this cake became another constant.

From

They declined to be quoted directly but explained that they were simply waiting for word from their bosses on what to do next.

From

Yet this isn't the time for celebration either - that will have to wait until after the funeral, when the conclave will spark the usual frenzy of excitement, intrigue and inevitable speculation.

From

鈥淲e became one family under fire, praying, waiting, surviving.鈥

From

He wanted to wait to experience it with an audience.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from 亚洲网紅露点 Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 漏 Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage庐 Idioms Dictionary copyright 漏 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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