1wait 
/ˈweɪt/ verb
waits; wait·ed; wait·ing /ˈweɪt/ verb 1 [no obj] : to stay in a place until an expected event happens, until someone arrives, until it is your turn to do something, etc.
▪ I hate waiting in long lines. ▪ They waited at the train station together. ▪ You should have waited a little longer. He showed up right after you left. ▪ I don't have time to wait around. If he's not here in five minutes, I'm leaving. ▪ She waited behind after class to talk to the professor. ▪ I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. How may I help you? ▪ I waited and waited but he never showed up. — often followed by to + verb ▪ I'm waiting to use the bathroom. ▪ The taxi is waiting to bring us to the airport. ▪ Doctors are ready and waiting to give aid. — often + for ▪ She read the newspaper while waiting for the bus. ▪ Wait for me! I'll go with you. ▪ Take a seat and wait for your name to be called. ▪ It can take over an hour to be served at the restaurant, but the food is worth waiting for. 2 : to not do something until something else happens [no obj] ▪ Wait! Don't start the engine yet. ▪ We waited for the sun to set before starting the fire. — often + until ▪ We'll wait until you come back to start the movie. [=we will not start the movie until you come back] [+ obj] ▪ You will have to wait your turn. [=you cannot do something until it is your turn] 3 [no obj] a : to remain in a state in which you expect or hope that something will happen soon
▪ I know she was happy when I lost my job. She was waiting to see me fail. ▪ I have waited for this opportunity for a long time.
b : to remain in a state in which you expect to learn or find out something soon
▪ You will have to wait two weeks for the test results. ▪ She waited for his answer. ▪ We are waiting to hear back from the doctor. ▪ He'll be a star some day—just (you) wait. [=I feel sure that he will be a star some day] ▪ I have to wait and see whether or not I got the job. ▪ “What are you making?” “Wait and see.” 4 [no obj] : to be done or dealt with at a later time
▪ The other issues will just have to wait until our next meeting. ▪ “Can this wait until tomorrow?” “No, it can't wait.” 5 [no obj] : to be in a place ready to be dealt with, taken, etc. — always used as (be) waiting ▪ It's time to come inside. Dinner is waiting. — often + for ▪ There is a package waiting for you at home. ▪ She had several messages waiting for her at the office.
▪ I hate waiting in long lines. ▪ They waited at the train station together. ▪ You should have waited a little longer. He showed up right after you left. ▪ I don't have time to wait around. If he's not here in five minutes, I'm leaving. ▪ She waited behind after class to talk to the professor. ▪ I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. How may I help you? ▪ I waited and waited but he never showed up. — often followed by to + verb ▪ I'm waiting to use the bathroom. ▪ The taxi is waiting to bring us to the airport. ▪ Doctors are ready and waiting to give aid. — often + for ▪ She read the newspaper while waiting for the bus. ▪ Wait for me! I'll go with you. ▪ Take a seat and wait for your name to be called. ▪ It can take over an hour to be served at the restaurant, but the food is worth waiting for.
▪ I know she was happy when I lost my job. She was waiting to see me fail. ▪ I have waited for this opportunity for a long time.
b : to remain in a state in which you expect to learn or find out something soon
▪ You will have to wait two weeks for the test results. ▪ She waited for his answer. ▪ We are waiting to hear back from the doctor. ▪ He'll be a star some day—just (you) wait. [=I feel sure that he will be a star some day] ▪ I have to wait and see whether or not I got the job. ▪ “What are you making?” “Wait and see.”
▪ The other issues will just have to wait until our next meeting. ▪ “Can this wait until tomorrow?” “No, it can't wait.”
accident waiting to happen — see accident
can't wait or can hardly wait
◊If you can't wait or can hardly wait, you are very excited about doing something or eager for something to happen or begin.
▪ The concert is tomorrow, and we can hardly wait! ▪ The children can hardly wait for summer. ▪ I can't wait to try your apple pie.
▪ The concert is tomorrow, and we can hardly wait! ▪ The children can hardly wait for summer. ▪ I can't wait to try your apple pie.
hurry up and wait — see 1hurry
wait a minute/moment/second 1 — used to tell someone to stop and wait briefly ▪ Wait a minute. I need to tie my shoe. ▪ Please wait one moment while I take this call. ▪ If you would just wait a second, I could explain what happened. 2 — used to interrupt someone or something because you have noticed, thought of, or remembered something ▪ Wait a second—that's not what she said. ▪ Wait a minute. I just remembered where I put the keys.
wait at table
Brit, formal : to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress
▪ He waited at table for two years.
▪ He waited at table for two years.
wait for it
chiefly Brit, informal — used to emphasize that the following statement is foolish, surprising, funny, etc. ▪ He says he was fired because—wait for it—he refused to compromise his principles.
wait in
[phrasal verb] Brit : to stay at home and wait for someone or something to arrive
▪ I can't go out. I've got to wait in for a delivery.
▪ I can't go out. I've got to wait in for a delivery.
wait on also wait upon
[phrasal verb] 1 wait on/upon (someone) a : to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress to (someone)
▪ The hostess waits on tables/people when the restaurant is crowded.
b : to provide service to (a customer) : to help (a customer) make purchases
▪ He is busy waiting on customers at the moment.
c : to act as a servant to (someone)
▪ He seems to expect his wife to wait on him. ▪ She waited on her children hand and foot. [=she acted like a servant to her children; she provided her children with everything they needed or wanted] 2 wait on/upon (someone or something) chiefly US : to wait for (someone or something) to arrive or happen
▪ We waited on him, but he never came. ▪ The government's decision must wait on the committee's report. [=the government's decision will not be made until the committee has issued its report]
▪ The hostess waits on tables/people when the restaurant is crowded.
b : to provide service to (a customer) : to help (a customer) make purchases
▪ He is busy waiting on customers at the moment.
c : to act as a servant to (someone)
▪ He seems to expect his wife to wait on him. ▪ She waited on her children hand and foot. [=she acted like a servant to her children; she provided her children with everything they needed or wanted]
▪ We waited on him, but he never came. ▪ The government's decision must wait on the committee's report. [=the government's decision will not be made until the committee has issued its report]
wait out [phrasal verb]
wait (something) out or wait out (something) : to stay in one place until the end of (something)
▪ We waited out the storm in our hotel room.
▪ We waited out the storm in our hotel room.
wait tables
US : to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress
▪ She has a job waiting tables.
▪ She has a job waiting tables.
wait until/till
— used to emphasize that a future event is going to be very surprising, important, etc. ▪ Wait till you see their new house. It's just beautiful! ▪ You think you're in trouble now? Just wait until your father finds out what you did, young lady! [=your father will be very angry and will punish you when he finds out what you did]
wait up [phrasal verb] 1 : to delay going to bed while you wait for someone to arrive
▪ I'll be late; don't wait up (for me). 2 chiefly US, informal : to stop moving forward so that someone who is behind you can join you
▪ Hey, wait up (for me)! I'm going with you.
▪ I'll be late; don't wait up (for me).
▪ Hey, wait up (for me)! I'm going with you.
what are you waiting for?
— used to say that someone should do something immediately ▪ What are we waiting for? Let's go inside and get something to eat. ▪ If you have so much work to do, then what are you waiting for?
