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Waiting: meaning, definitions and examples

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waiting

 

[ ˈweɪtɪŋ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

time

The act of staying in one place or remaining inactive in expectation of something.

Synonyms

anticipation, expectation, pause

Examples of usage

  • She grew tired of waiting for him to call.
  • The waiting seemed endless as they sat in the doctor's office.
Context #2 | Noun

restaurant

The area in a restaurant where customers are seated before being served.

Synonyms

lounge, reception

Examples of usage

  • They were led to a table in the cozy waiting area.
  • The waiting area was filled with the aroma of delicious food.
Context #3 | Verb

expectation

Stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event.

Synonyms

anticipate, await, expect

Examples of usage

  • She is waiting for her friends to arrive before starting the party.
  • The passengers waited patiently for the train to arrive.

Translations

Translations of the word "waiting" in other languages:

🇵🇹 esperando

🇮🇳 प्रतीक्षा कर रहा है

🇩🇪 warten

🇮🇩 menunggu

🇺🇦 очікування

🇵🇱 czekanie

🇯🇵 待機 (たいき)

🇫🇷 attente

🇪🇸 esperando

🇹🇷 bekleme

🇰🇷 기다림 (gidarim)

🇸🇦 انتظار

🇨🇿 čekání

🇸🇰 čakanie

🇨🇳 等待 (děngdài)

🇸🇮 čakanje

🇮🇸 bið

🇰🇿 күту

🇬🇪 ლოდინი (lodini)

🇦🇿 gözləmə

🇲🇽 esperando

Etymology

The word 'waiting' originated from the Middle English word 'waiten', which means to watch, observe, or guard. Over time, it evolved to signify staying in one place or delaying action. Waiting is a universal experience that is part of human nature, as we all encounter moments of anticipation and expectation throughout our lives. Whether waiting for a loved one, waiting for an event to happen, or waiting for a decision to be made, the concept of waiting is deeply ingrained in our daily lives.

See also: await, wait, waiter, waitress, waitstaff.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,836, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.