WAITS Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

waits 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wait

as in stays

to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something please wait here, and we'll seat you shortly

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waits

2 of 2

noun

plural of wait

as in delays

an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business there was a long wait for the manager to come and help us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of waits

Verb

In the film, Jasper dies after Bangley waits until the last minute to pick off some invaders that target Hig and his dog. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 The venture team owns the company relationship, the infrastructure team waits for scale, and the credit team waits for operating history. — Rob Day, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The grey area here is how long the referee waits before starting the countdown. — Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 The federal agency normally waits until all of the yearly data is reported to suggest a drop in crime. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 Under a communications blackout, a rover team that waits for its commands from Earth has to stop. — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 And then there is a producer fearless enough to cross the minefield, knowing that on the far side waits a festival circuit slightly fatigued by war stories from Ukraine. — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 But long waits to enter the stadium — delays that stemmed from operational failures rather than genuine demand — frustrated the same fans who had willingly queued for tickets weeks earlier. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 July 2026 The Albatross sits less than a five-minute walk to the sand, but for guests who don’t feel like carrying their gear, a cute hunter-green buggy waits right out front. — Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2026

Noun

At Ningbo, Gemini services were waiting an average of four to five days, while non-Gemini vessels were facing waits of three to six days, according to Hapag-Lloyd. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 Stephen Hunt, chief development officer for VRT, told the council that virtually every rider complaint from long waits at the Senior Center to circuitous routes traced back to a lack of funding rather than mismanagement. — Noah Daly august 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026 While Waymo aims for robotaxis to replace car ownership, current issues like long waits and the inability to easily store personal items hinder this long-term vision. — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The supervisors who wrote the motion, Paloma Aguirre and Terra Lawson-Remer, say that lengthy waits at the border are the responsibility of the federal government. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Martinez also warned that longer border waits could hurt commerce and increase pollution from idling vehicles. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026 That does not even include the additional waits associated with security clearances for those who don’t already have them. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Those at higher risk for longer waits included patients who were uninsured or on Medicaid, Black (compared with white), lower-income, and had a longer travel distance to a treatment center. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026 Hourslong waits were not uncommon at gas stations as not every station had power. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waits

Verb

Camping stretches the experience beyond show hours, the landscape stays visible from across the grounds, and the single-stage format gives attendees time to settle in.

— Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
This fascinating world of insects and plants usually stays far from human lives.

— Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of stays

Noun

Flight delays, unexpected crises, intense periods of business development, or simply the weight of responsibility can all disrupt a leader’s sleep.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
However, delays remain a major challenge as shipyards struggle with capacity, materials, and experienced workers.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of delays

Verb

The zoning plan has made it through multiple approvals and hearings at City Hall but awaits final approval by the City Council, which could happen in September.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026
Ruddy tomato salsa pounded in a molcajete, its texture almost emulsified, awaits on the side.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of awaits

Verb

His future remains uncertain with the team currently rostering four QBs.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
But research that began in the 1990s has shown that something sparked an acceleration of the universe’s expansion about 6 billion years ago, and the cause remains unknown.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026