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wait

1 wait /ˈweɪt/ verb
waits; waited; waiting
1 wait
/ˈweɪt/
verb
waits; waited; waiting
Britannica Dictionary definition of WAIT
[no object] : to stay in a place until an expected event happens, until someone arrives, until it is your turn to do something, etc.
often followed by to + verb
often + for
: to not do something until something else happens
[no object]
often + until
[+ object]
[no object]
: to remain in a state in which you expect or hope that something will happen soon
: to remain in a state in which you expect to learn or find out something soon
[no object] : to be done or dealt with at a later time
[no object] : to be in a place ready to be dealt with, taken, etc. always used as (be) waiting often + for

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.

hurry up and wait

see 1hurry

wait a minute/moment/second

used to tell someone to stop and wait briefly
used to interrupt someone or something because you have noticed, thought of, or remembered something

wait at table

British, formal
: to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress

wait for it

chiefly British, informal
used to emphasize that the following statement is foolish, surprising, funny, etc.

wait in

[phrasal verb] British
: to stay at home and wait for someone or something to arrive

wait on

[phrasal verb] also wait upon
wait on/upon (someone)
: to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress to (someone)
: to provide service to (a customer) : to help (a customer) make purchases
: to act as a servant to (someone)
wait on/upon (someone or something) chiefly US : to wait for (someone or something) to arrive or happen

wait out

[phrasal verb]
wait (something) out or wait out (something)
: to stay in one place until the end of (something)

wait tables

US
: to serve food or drinks as a waiter or waitress

wait until/till

used to emphasize that a future event is going to be very surprising, important, etc.

wait up

[phrasal verb]
: to delay going to bed while you wait for someone to arrive
chiefly US, informal : to stop moving forward so that someone who is behind you can join you

what are you waiting for?

used to say that someone should do something immediately
2 wait /ˈweɪt/ noun
plural waits
2 wait
/ˈweɪt/
noun
plural waits
Britannica Dictionary definition of WAIT
[count]
: a period of time when you must wait usually singular

lie in wait

: to hide and wait for the right moment to make an attack sometimes used figuratively