Synonyms of 'wait'

wait

Explore 'wait' in the dictionary

1 (verb) in the sense of stay

Definition

to stay in one place or remain inactive in expectation of something

I waited at the corner for the lights to go green.

Synonyms

stay

Hundreds of people defied army orders to stay at home.

remain

He remained at home with his family.

stop

She doesn't stop to think about what she's saying.

pause

He paused briefly before answering.

rest

delay

linger

Customers are welcome to linger over coffee until midnight.

hover

hang around (informal)

dally

He did not dally long over his meal.

loiter

unemployed young men loitering at the entrance to the factory.

tarry

Two old boys tarried on the street corner discussing cattle.

w8 (text messaging)

See examples for synonyms

Opposites

leave

quit

take off (informal)

go away

set off

depart

move off

2 (verb) in the sense of stand by

Definition

to stay in one place or remain inactive in expectation of something

Let's wait and see what happens.

Synonyms

stand by

Stand by for details.

delay

hold on (informal)

hold back

wait in the wings

mark time

hang fire

bide your time

kick your heels

cool your heels

w8 (text messaging)

See examples for synonyms

3 (verb) in the sense of be postponed

Definition

to be temporarily delayed

I want to talk to you but it can wait.

Synonyms

be postponed

be suspended

be delayed

be put off

be put back

be deferred

be put on hold (informal)

be shelved

be tabled

be held over

be put on ice (informal)

be put on the back burner (informal)

w8 (text messaging)

abide

(noun) in the sense of delay

Definition

the act or a period of waiting

After a long wait, someone finally picked up the phone.

Synonyms

delay

Air restrictions might mean delays for Easter holidaymakers.

gap

There followed a gap of four years.

pause

There was a brief pause in the conversation.

interval

the interval between her arrival and lunch

stay

The court dismissed defence appeals for a permanent stay of execution.

rest

He took a rest from teaching.

halt

Air traffic has been brought to a halt.

hold-up

They arrived late due to a motorway hold-up.

lull

stoppage

hindrance

hiatus

Efforts to reach a settlement resume today after a two-week hiatus.

entr'acte

w8 (text messaging)

See examples for synonyms

Phrasal verbs

See wait around

See wait for or on something or someone

See wait on someone

See wait up

proverbs

Don't count your chickens before they are hatchedDon't cross the bridge till you come to it

Additional synonyms

in the sense of abide

Definition

to live

Synonyms

stay,

live,

stop,

wait,

rest,

lodge,

linger,

dwell (formal, literary),

reside (formal),

sojourn,

tarry

in the sense of dally

Definition

to waste time or dawdle

He did not dally long over his meal.

Synonyms

waste time,

delay,

fool (about or around),

linger,

hang about,

loiter,

while away,

dawdle,

fritter away,

procrastinate,

tarry,

dilly-dally (informal),

drag your feet or heels

in the sense of gap

Definition

an interruption or interval

There followed a gap of four years.

Synonyms

interval,

pause,

recess,

interruption,

respite,

lull,

interlude,

breathing space,

hiatus,

intermission,

lacuna,

entr'acte

Video: pronunciation of
wait

Browse alphabetically
wait

Related terms of
wait

Source

Thesaurus for wait from the Collins English Thesaurus

1 2 3

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

storm or wind?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

wind

storm

throw caution to the

big or little?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

little

big

twist someone around your finger

black or green?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

green

black

with envy

calf or cat?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

calf

cat

kill the fatted

hit or miss?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

hit

miss

the jackpot

Your score:

Sep 02, 2021

Word of the day

mas

a carnival

SEE FULL DEFINITION

SEE PREVIOUS WORDS

Latest Word Submissions

E5 Sep 01, 2021

E10 Sep 01, 2021

monocausotaxophilia Sep 01, 2021

Chlomentalic Sep 01, 2021

View More Submit

Scrabble score
for 'wait':
7

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

marshal or martial?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

marshal

martial

A fire appeared at our door.

their or they're?

Which version is correct?

Some people eat when their feeling low. Some people eat when they're feeling low.

steal or steel?

Which version is correct?

Sometimes she had to steal to eat. Sometimes she had to steel to eat.

boar or bore?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

bore

boar

It’s such a to be sick.

stationary or stationery?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

stationery

stationary

She took a sheet of from the drawer.

Your score:

Updating our Usage

There are many diverse influences on the way that English is used across the world today. We look at some of the ways in which the language is changing. Read our series of blogs to find out more. October 30, 2020 Read more

Synonyms of 'wait'

wait

Phrasal verbs

proverbs

Additional synonyms

Video: pronunciation of wait

Browse alphabetically wait

Related terms of wait

Source

Video: pronunciation of
wait

Browse alphabetically
wait

Related terms of
wait