Phrase guide

can't wait

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To eagerly anticipate; to find it hard to wait for a forthcoming pleasurable event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, no-past-participle, no-present-participle

Examples

  • I can't wait for that party on Friday.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To need to be attended to right away.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: no-past-participle, no-present-participle

Examples

  • I'm afraid this can't wait; it has to be done by Thursday.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: لَا اَسْتَطِيع اَلاِنْتِظَار (lā astaṭīʕ al-intiẓār) — to eagerly anticipate
  • Czech: těšit se — to eagerly anticipate
  • Finnish: ei malttaa odottaa — to eagerly anticipate
  • French: avoir hâte — to eagerly anticipate
  • German: kaum erwarten können — to eagerly anticipate
  • Hungarian: alig vár — to eagerly anticipate
  • Italian: non vedere l'ora — to eagerly anticipate
  • Japanese: 楽しみにする (tanoshimi ni suru) — to eagerly anticipate
  • Portuguese: não ver a hora — to eagerly anticipate
  • Romanian: abia aștepta — to eagerly anticipate
  • Russian: жду не дожду́сь (ždu ne doždúsʹ) — to eagerly anticipate
  • Russian: жду с нетерпе́нием (ždu s neterpénijem) — to eagerly anticipate
  • Serbo-Croatian: jedva čekam — to eagerly anticipate
  • Spanish: no ver la hora — to eagerly anticipate
  • Turkish: iple çekmek — to eagerly anticipate
  • Turkish: dört gözle beklemek — to eagerly anticipate