noun · verb · 6 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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/ˈweɪtɪŋ/
Canada, US:[ˈweɪ̯ɾɪŋ]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪtɪŋ
CMU ARPABET:W EY1 T IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Watching, observation; keeping watch, guarding.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The act of staying or remaining in expectation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Waiting for any news in a waiting room. (gerund)
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Attendance, service.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
present participle and gerund of wait
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
Examples
Your guest has been waiting for you. (progressive) They hurried into the waiting car. (participle used as adjective)
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
being and remaining ready and available for use
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
waiting cars and limousines lined the curb
found her mother waiting for them
an impressive array of food ready and waiting for the guests
military forces ready and waiting
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ready and waiting(p)
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the wait was an ordeal for him
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wait
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: inactivity
History
Etymology
From Middle English waitynge, waytynge, equivalent to wait + -ing.
From Middle English waitinge, waytynge, waitende, weytende, waitand, waytand, equivalent to wait + -ing.
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
чакане
(čakane)
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Bulgarian:
изчакване
(izčakvane)
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Dutch:
wachten
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Dutch:
afwachten
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Finnish:
odotus
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Finnish:
odottaminen
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
French:
attente
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
German:
Warten
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Hindi:
प्रतीक्षा
(pratīkṣā)
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Hungarian:
várakozás
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Irish:
fanacht
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Italian:
attesa
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Italian:
aspettazione
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Italian:
aspetto
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Japanese:
待つこと
(matsu koto)
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Ligurian:
atéiza
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Norwegian:
vente
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Polish:
czekanie
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Russian:
ожида́ние
(ožidánije)
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Spanish:
aguardamiento
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Ukrainian:
чека́ння
(čekánnja)
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Unami:
pèhëwe
— the act of staying or remaining in expectation
Bulgarian:
сервиране
(servirane)
— attendance, service
Bulgarian:
обслужване
(obslužvane)
— attendance, service
