a ‧ wait /əˈweɪt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old North French ; Origin: awaitier , from waitier ; ⇨ ↑ wait 1 ]
1 . to wait for something:
Several men are awaiting trial for robbery.
2 . if a situation, event etc awaits you, it is going to happen in the future:
A terrible surprise awaited them at Mr Tumnus’ house.
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THESAURUS
▪ wait to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc:
I’ll wait here while you call him.
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He said he was waiting for a friend.
▪ hang around ( also hang about British English ) informal to wait in a place not doing anything, especially so that you are wasting time:
They kept us hanging around for hours at the hospital.
▪ hold on/hang on to wait because you are hoping that something will happen:
The captain decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.
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We hung on until the very last moment.
▪ can you hold on/hang on? spoken used when telling someone to wait:
Can you hang on a minute? I just want to finish this email.
▪ stand by/be on standby to wait and be ready to do something if needed – used especially about soldiers, police, medical teams etc:
The army are standing by.
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Emergency services were on standby after someone called to say there was a bomb in the city centre.
▪ await formal to wait for something – used about something that you know will happen or arrive:
I will await your reply (=in a formal letter) .
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In February, nearly 200,000 prisoners were awaiting trial.
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The soldiers awaited the order to advance.