wait
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- pronunciation:
- weIt
- parts of speech:
- verb, noun
- phrases:
- wait on [or] wait upon
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Note, Homophone Note, Word Builder
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
waits, waiting, waited |
| definition: |
to stay in one place until an expected event happens.
We're waiting for the mail to arrive.We're waiting at home until it stops raining.
- similar words:
- expect
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| related words: |
halt, pause, remain, stay |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a period of waiting.
There was a long wait before the movie started.- synonyms:
- delay
- similar words:
- pause, stop
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| phrase: |
wait on [or] wait upon |
wait for or wait on?
Wait on means to serve a customer, as in a restaurant or store.
Wait for is more common and means to stay in a place or situation until some expected event happens.
Compare:
- A nice person waited on us at the restaurant today.
- I waited for my son outside his school.
The words
wait and
weight (heaviness) sound alike but have different meanings.