WAIT

Pronunciation (US):

• WAIT (noun)
  The noun WAIT has 2 senses:

1. time during which some action is awaited
2. the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

  Familiarity information: WAIT used as a noun is rare.

• WAIT (verb)
  The verb WAIT has 4 senses:

1. stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
2. wait before acting
3. look forward to the probable occurrence of
4. serve as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant

  Familiarity information: WAIT used as a verb is uncommon.

• WAIT (noun)

Meaning:

Time during which some action is awaited

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

delay; postponement; time lag; wait; hold

Context examples:

instant replay caused too long a delay / he ordered a hold in the action

Hypernyms ("wait" is a kind of...):

break; intermission; interruption; pause; suspension (a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wait"):

extension (a mutually agreed delay in the date set for the completion of a job or payment of a debt)

moratorium (a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged)

retardation (the extent to which something is delayed or held back)

Meaning:

The act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

waiting; wait

Context example:

the wait was an ordeal for him

Hypernyms ("wait" is a kind of...):

inactivity (being inactive; being less active)

• WAIT (verb)

Meaning:

Stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

I had to wait on line for an hour to get the tickets

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wait"):

ambuscade; ambush; bushwhack; lie in wait; lurk; scupper; waylay (wait in hiding to attack)

cool one's heels; kick one's heels (wait or pass the time aimlessly or futilely; be kept waiting)

stand by; stick about; stick around (be available or ready for a certain function or service)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

They wait a long time

Meaning:

Wait before acting

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

hold off; wait; hold back

Context example:

the scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment

Hypernyms (to "wait" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wait"):

hold out (wait uncompromisingly for something desirable)

delay (act later than planned, scheduled, or required)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sentence example:

They wait to move

Meaning:

Look forward to the probable occurrence of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

await; wait; expect; look

Context examples:

We were expecting a visit from our relatives / She is looking to a promotion / he is waiting to be drafted

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wait"):

anticipate; look for; look to (be excited or anxious about)

hang on; hold on; hold the line (hold the phone line open)

look to (turn one's interests or expectations towards)

look forward (expect or hope for)

expect (look forward to the birth of a child)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Meaning:

Serve as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

waitress; wait

Context example:

I'm waiting on tables at Maxim's

Hypernyms (to "wait" is one way to...):

work (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s