wait

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 ~ (for sb/sth) to stay where you are or delay doing sth until sb/sth comes or sth happens: [V] She rang the bell and waited. * Have you been waiting long? * I've been waiting (for) twenty minutes. * Wait for me! * We're waiting for the rain to stop before we go out. * I'll wait outside until the meeting's over. * The President agreed to speak to the waiting journalists. * No waiting (= on a sign at the side of the road, telling vehicles that they must not stop there). * [Vtoinf] Hurry up! We're waiting to go. * [VN] You'll just have to wait your turn (= wait until your turn comes). -< EXPECT 2 ~ (for sth) to hope or watch for sth to happen, especially for a long time: [V] Leeds United had waited for success for eighteen years. * This is just the opportunity I've been waiting for. * He's waiting for me to make a mistake. * [VN] I waited my chance and slipped out when no one was looking. 3 (be waiting) (of things) to be ready for sb to have or use: [V] There's a letter waiting for you at home. * [Vtoinf] The hotel had a taxi waiting to collect us. 4 [V] to be left to be dealt with at a later time because it is not urgent: I've got some calls to make but they can wait until tomorrow. * I'm afraid this can't wait. It's very important. IDIOMS an accident / a disaster waiting to happen a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave I, they, etc. can't wait / can hardly wait used when you are emphasizing that sb is very excited about sth or keen to do it: The children can't wait for Christmas to come. * I can hardly wait to see him again. keep sb waiting to make sb have to wait or be delayed, especially because you arrive late: I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. wait and see used to tell sb that they must be patient and wait to find out about sth later: We'll just have to wait and see-there's nothing we can do at the moment. * a wait-and-see policy / attitude * 'Where are we going?' 'Wait and see!' wait at table (formal) to serve food to people, for example at a formal meal wait for it (spoken, especially BrE) 1 used to say that you are about to tell sb sth that is surprising or amusing: They're off on a trip, to-wait for it-the Maldives! 2 used to tell sb not to start doing sth yet, but to wait until you tell them wait a minute / moment / second 1 to wait for a short time: Can you wait a second while I make a call? 2 used when you have just noticed or remembered sth, or had a sudden idea: Wait a minute-this isn't the right key. wait on sb hand and foot (disapproving) to take care of sb's needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves: He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot. wait tables (AmE) to work serving food to people in a restaurant wait till / until... (spoken) used to show that you are very excited about telling or showing sth to sb: Wait till you see what I've found! what are we waiting for? (spoken) used to suggest that you should all start doing what you have been discussing what are you waiting for? (spoken) used to tell sb to do sth now rather than later: If the car needs cleaning, what are you waiting for? (just) you wait used to emphasize a threat, warning or promise: I'll be famous one day, just you wait! moreatWINGn. PHRASALVERBS wait about / around to stay in a place, with nothing particular to do, for example because you are expecting sth to happen or sb to arrive: Let's wait around and see what happens. wait behind (especially BrE) to stay after other people have gone, especially to speak to sb privately: He asked her to wait behind after the meeting. wait in (BrE) to stay at home because you are expecting sb to come, telephone, etc: I waited in all day but the plumber never came. wait on sb to act as a servant to sb, especially by serving food to them: 'Help yourself,' she said, 'I'm too tired to wait on you.' wait on sth/sb (informal, especially AmE) to wait for sth to happen before you do or decide sth: She is waiting on the result of a blood test. wait sth>-<out to wait until an unpleasant event has finished: We sheltered in a doorway to wait out the storm. wait up (AmE) used to ask sb to stop or go more slowly so that you can join them: Wait up-you're walking too fast for me. wait up (for sb) to wait for sb to come home at night before you go to bed: I'll be back very late so don't wait up for me. noun [usuallysing.] ~ (for sb/sth) an act of waiting; an amount of time waited: We had a long wait for the bus. * He now faces an agonizing two-month wait for the test results. * It took six months for the house to be finished, but it was worth the wait. IDIOMS see LIEv.