(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~ for something or someone, you spend some time doing very little, because you cannot act until that thing happens or that person arrives.
I walk to a street corner and ~ for the school bus...
Stop ~ing for things to happen. Make them happen...
I ~ed to see how she responded...
Angus got out of the car to ~...
We will have to ~ a week or so before we know whether the operation is a success...
He told ~ing journalists that he did not expect a referendum to be held for several months.
VERB: no passive, V for n, V for n to-inf, V to-inf, V, V n, V-ing, also V n for n
~ing
The ~ing became almost unbearable.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
A ~ is a period of time in which you do very little, before something happens or before you can do something.
...the four-hour ~ for the organizers to declare the result.
N-COUNT: usu sing
3.
If something is ~ing for you, it is ready for you to use, have, or do.
There’ll be a car ~ing for you...
When we came home we had a meal ~ing for us...
Ships with unfurled sails ~ to take them aboard...
VERB: usu cont, V for n, have n V-ing for n, V to-inf
4.
If you say that something can ~, you mean that it is not important or urgent and so you will deal with it or do it later.
I want to talk to you, but it can ~...
Any changes will have to ~ until sponsors can be found.
VERB: no cont, V, V
5.
You can use ~ when you are trying to make someone feel excited, or to encourage or threaten them.
If you think this all sounds very exciting, just ~ until you read the book...
As soon as you get some food inside you, you’ll feel more cheerful. Just you ~.
VERB: only imper, V until cl/n, V
6.
Wait is used in expressions such as ~ a minute, ~ a second, and ~ a moment to interrupt someone when they are speaking, for example because you object to what they are saying or because you want them to repeat something. (SPOKEN)
‘Wait a minute!’ he broke in. ‘This is not giving her a fair hearing!’
= hold on, hang on
VERB: only imper, V n
7.
If an employee ~s on you, for example in a restaurant or hotel, they take orders from you and bring you what you want.
There were plenty of servants to ~ on her...
Each student is expected to ~ at table for one week each semester.
VERB: V on n, V at n
8.
If you say that you can’t ~ to do something or can hardly ~ to do it, you are emphasizing that you are very excited about it and eager to do it. (SPOKEN)
We can’t ~ to get started...
It’s gonna be great. I can hardly ~...
PHRASE: oft PHR to-inf emphasis
9.
If you tell someone to ~ and see, you tell them that they must be patient or that they must not worry about what is going to happen in the future because they have no control over it.
We’ll have to ~ and see what happens.
...a ~-and-see attitude.
PHRASE: oft PHR n, PHR wh