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   wait

   /wāt/

   verb

   • 1. stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens: "I rang the bell and waited" Similar stand byhold backbe patientbide one's timehang firemark timekill timewaste timecool one's heelskick one's heelstwiddle one's thumbspausestopceasehaltdiscontinuerestinformal:hold onhang aroundsit tighthold one's horsessweat it outawaitlook/watch outanticipateexpectbe readybe in readinesslong forhope forcount the days until
   • ▪ stay where one is or delay action until (someone) arrives or is ready: "he sits on the corner waiting for Mary"
   • ▪ be left until a later time before being dealt with: "we shall need a statement later, but that will have to wait" Similar be postponedbe delayedbe put offbe held backbe deferredinformal:be put on the back burnerbe put on ice
   • ▪ delay (a meal) until a person's arrival: dated "he will wait supper for me" Similar delaypostponeput offhold offhold backdefer
   • ▪ remain in readiness for some purpose: "he found the train waiting at the platform" Similar stayremainrestlingerloiterdallystopstay putinformal:stick aroundkick aroundarchaic:bidetarryOpposite leave
   • 2. used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen: "I can't wait for tomorrow"

   noun

   • 1. a period of waiting: "we had a long wait"
   • 2. street singers of Christmas carols. archaic
   • ▪ official bands of musicians maintained by a city or town. historical

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old Northern French waitier, of Germanic origin; related to wake1. Early senses included ‘lie in wait (for’), ‘observe carefully’, and ‘be watchful’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • W

     4

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

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