Wait Meaning
Wait Definition & Usage
To remain in one place or delay action until a specified condition or event occurs.
Examples
- "I'll wait for you at the café."
- "We had to wait for the bus for over an hour."
- "Please wait here while I grab the tickets."
- "She waited patiently for her turn to speak."
- "He was forced to wait in line for a long time at the airport."
To delay or hold off on an action or decision until later.
Examples
- "Let's wait until tomorrow to make the decision."
- "He chose to wait before answering her question."
- "They waited until after lunch to discuss the matter."
- "We should wait before committing to any new projects."
- "I think we should wait until the weather improves before heading out."
To let something happen without interference, often allowing it to unfold on its own.
Examples
- "I'm just going to wait and see what happens next."
- "Sometimes, the best course of action is to wait for the situation to resolve itself."
- "Instead of rushing into a solution, we decided to wait and let the process play out."
- "I decided to wait for the opportunity to present itself rather than force anything."
- "Rather than making the call right away, she waited and watched for a better moment."
Cultural Context
The verb 'wait' has ancient roots in the English language, derived from Old English 'wætan,' meaning to be awake or alert, reflecting its use in anticipation or inaction. Over time, it became associated with pauses, delays, or the expectation of something happening. Waiting is an integral part of everyday life in both personal and professional contexts.
The Long Wait
Story
The Long Wait
It was a stormy day, and Lily sat at the bus stop, watching the heavy rain fall. She had been waiting for over an hour, but the bus was nowhere in sight. As she sighed and checked her phone for any updates, she remembered the advice her grandmother had once given her: sometimes, you just have to wait and let things unfold. At that moment, her friend Mark called. "Hey, Lily, are you still at the bus stop? I thought you'd have gotten home by now." "Yeah, I’m still waiting. Looks like the storm is delaying everything. I'm trying not to get frustrated," she replied. "Sometimes, the best thing to do is wait it out. Don’t rush into decisions or get worked up. Let the storm pass and the situation resolve itself," Mark suggested. Lily smiled, feeling a sense of calm from his words. She had been debating whether to head home or wait for a ride, but now she decided to just wait a little longer. In the past, she might have panicked or tried to solve everything immediately, but today, waiting seemed like the right answer. Two hours later, as the rain began to ease, the bus finally arrived. She boarded with a sense of relief. In hindsight, waiting had been the best decision. On the way home, Lily thought about how waiting, both for the bus and for other opportunities in her life, had taught her patience and the value of allowing things to happen naturally, without rushing into them. The bus ride was long, but Lily felt at peace with the wait. It wasn’t just about the time spent at the bus stop—it was about allowing things to take their course and trusting that the right moments would come. She had learned to wait, and it had made all the difference.
Related Words
