wait
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ldoce_757_zwait1 /weɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 not go/start STH 不走/未开始某事 [intransitive]WAIT to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc 等，等候 Hurry up! Everyone’s waiting. 快点！大家在等着呢。 Would you mind waiting outside? 你在外面等好吗？wait for a queue of people waiting for a bus 等候公共汽车的队伍 Wait for me! 等等我！wait for somebody/something to do something She paused, waiting for Myles to say something. 她停下来，等着迈尔斯说些什么。 I sat waiting patiently for the wedding to end. 我耐心地坐着等待婚礼结束。wait until/till I’ll wait till you come back. 我会等到你回来。wait (for) three hours/two weeks etc Can you wait for five minutes? 你能等五分钟吗？ We’ve been waiting ages. 我们已经等了很长时间了。wait to do something Are you waiting to use the phone? 你在等着用电话吗？keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, especially by arriving late) 〔尤指因迟到而〕使某人一直等候 I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. 对不起，让你久等了。5 ► Don’t say that you ‘are waiting’ someone or something. Say that you are waiting for someone or something.不要说 you ‘are waiting’ someone 或 something。 而要说 you are waiting for someone 或 something。n Grammar• You wait for something or someone: I waited for the next bus. ✗Don’t say: I waited the next bus.• You wait for someone to do something, or for something to happen: 等待〔已知将要发生或来临的事〕She waited for him to finish speaking. ✗Don’t say: She waited him to finish speaking.2 STH has not happened 某事没有发生 [intransitive]EXPECT if you are waiting for something that you expect or hope will happen or arrive, it has not happened or arrived yet 期待，等待 ‘Have you heard about the job?’ ‘No, I’m still waiting.’ “那份工作有消息了吗？”“没有，我还在等呢。”wait for I’m still waiting for my results. 我还在等我的结果。wait for somebody/something to do something I’m waiting for him to realize how stupid he’s been. 我在等着他意识到自己有多么笨。3 wait a minute/second/moment etc spoken4 somebody can’t wait/can hardly wait spoken5 something can/can’t wait AFTERif something can wait, it is not very urgent. If something can’t wait, it is very urgent 某事可以等[不急]/刻不容缓[不能等]6 wait and see spokenWAIT used to say that someone should be patient because they will find out about something later 等等看〔用于叫某人耐心等待事情的结果〕7 wait until/till ... spokenEXCITED used when you are excited about telling or showing someone something 等到…〔用于兴奋地向某人诉说某事或展示某物〕8 be waiting (for somebody) WAITif something is waiting for you, it is ready for you to use, collect etc 〔某物已准备好〕可供(某人)使用[提取等]9 wait your turn WAITto stay calm until it is your turn to do something, instead of trying to move ahead of other people 〔冷静地〕等着轮到你10 something is (well) worth waiting for spokenGOOD/EXCELLENT used to say that something is very good, even though it takes a long time to come 某事物值得等〔表示某事物很好，值得久等〕11 (just) you wait spoken12 what are you waiting for? spokenDO something/TAKE ACTION used to tell someone to do something immediately 你还在等什么？〔用于叫某人马上做某事〕13 what are we waiting for? spokenDO something/TAKE ACTION used to say in a cheerful way that you think everyone should start doing something immediately 我们还等什么？〔用于高兴地建议大家立即做某事〕14 wait for it British English spoken15 be waiting in the wings WAITto be ready to do something if it is necessary or if a suitable time comes 正伺机而动16 wait tables American EnglishDF to work in a restaurant serving food and drink to people at their tables 〔在餐馆〕端盘子，招待顾客17. (play) a/the waiting game WAITif you play a waiting game, you try to gain an advantage for yourself in a particular situation by deliberately doing nothing until you have seen what other people do (采取)伺机而动的策略n COLLOCATIONSadverbswait two hours/ten minutes etcWilliam waited an hour for his sister to arrive.wait long (=wait a long time – used especially in questions or negative sentences)She did not have to wait long for a train.wait ages informal esp British English (=wait a long time)I had to wait ages for a bus.patientlyThey patiently waited for the rain to stop.impatientlyHe waited impatiently for a reply.anxiouslyAll his friends were waiting anxiously for their exam results.wait expectantly (=hoping that something good or exciting will happen soon)He took out his camera and waited expectantly.phraseskeep somebody waitingHe kept us waiting for half an hour.wait with bated breath (=while feeling very anxious or excited)She waited with bated breath to see what he would say.wait in vain (=wait for something that never happens)They waited in vain for their son to come home. THESAURUSwait to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc 等，等候I’ll wait here while you call him. 我在这里等着，你打电话给他。He said he was waiting for a friend. 他说他在等一个朋友。hang around (also hang about British English) informal to wait in a place not doing anything, especially so that you are wasting time 等着，闲待着They kept us hanging around for hours at the hospital. 他们让我们在医院干等了好几个小时。hold on/hang on to wait because you are hoping that something will happen 坚持住，等待The captain decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive. 船长决定最好是坚持等到另一艘船到达。We hung on until the very last moment. 我们坚持到了最后一刻。can you hold on/hang on? spoken used when telling someone to wait 你能稍等一会儿吗？Can you hang on a minute? I just want to finish this email. 你能稍等一会儿吗？我想把这封电子邮件写完。stand by/be on standby to wait and be ready to do something if needed – used especially about soldiers, police, medical teams etc 〔尤指士兵、警察、医疗队等〕待命The army are standing by. 军队在待命。Emergency services were on standby after someone called to say there was a bomb in the city centre. 有人打电话说在市中心有颗炸弹，应急机构的人员便待命准备行动。await formal to wait for something – used about something that you know will happen or arrive 等待〔已知将要发生或来临的事〕I will await your reply (=in a formal letter). 我恭候您的回复。In February, nearly 200,000 prisoners were awaiting trial. 2月份，有近20万名囚犯在等待审判。nThe soldiers awaited the order to advance.5 FREQUENCY 使用频率
PHRASAL VERBS→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
wait• "Have you heard about the job?" "No, I'm still waiting."• I'm so sorry I kept you waiting.• You'll have to wait a few minutes - I'm not ready yet.• The airline industry has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the report's proposals.• I've done as much as I can - now all I can do is wait and see what happens.• After the first date he said he would phone her: she waited by the telephone until after midnight.• She waited for him to reply.• She believed in the ship, and was waiting for it.• The morning star has withdrawn behind the curtain of light to wait for its chance to shine again tomorrow.• People were jammed behind a metal fence, waiting for passengers coming in from abroad to emerge from Customs.• I'll stay here and wait for Suzie.• He waited for the applause to die down before he continued speaking.• We spent almost an hour just waiting for the bus.• Wait here until I get back.• They were calling off their comrades who waited in ambush further ahead.• Substantial supplies had to wait on the mining of reefs first found as late as 1880 outcropping on the Tawmaw plateau.• Where have you been? I've been waiting since 7:00.• I am waiting to try it out on some one.• Are you waiting to use the phone?• Here is a soldier who was waiting, with a heavy heart, to suffer and die in battle.wait to do something• They swim beneath the surface with sharp black fins, waiting to attack.• The thought that had been waiting to be revealed, waiting to take him by surprise.• Willie couldn't wait to begin drawing.• We had to wait to get on.• I can't wait to hear them.• Holmes did not wait to pay the cabbie, but ran inside.• It is as though they could not wait to sink into a dotage spent in permanent contemplation of their childhood.• The lag in developing team incentives is a trap waiting to spring.• Are you waiting to use the phone?wait for somebody/something to do something• And the clouds had been waiting for her to call his name: Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Emmanuel.• I watched this tape, waiting for my father to come home.• Hard pitches, dry ball ... and referees prepared to wait for it to emerge.• He stands silent, waiting for the gun to go.• Du Camp waited for this one to run its course like a fever.• Or perhaps he was waiting for them to start counting their blessings there and then.• Both were waiting for stardom to tap them on the shoulder.wait2 ●●○ noun [singular] 1 WAITa period of time in which you wait for something to happen, someone to arrive etc 等候[等待]的时间wait for The average wait for an appointment at the clinic was eight weeks. 该诊所预约等候的平均时间是八个星期。long/three-hour/two-week etc wait There was an hour wait before the next train departed. 下一班火车要等上一个小时才开出。 They’ll have a long wait. 他们得等很久。 → lie in wait at lie1(8)Examples from the Corpus
wait• So there is not that long a wait.• Relatives now face an anxious wait while the emergency services search the wreckage for survivors.• After a four-hour wait at the airport, we finally got on a flight to New York.• There is often a one-hour wait to see a doctor.• By the end of 1996 long waits had shot up again.• I'm sorry you have had such a long wait.• I do studies in my office on patient satisfaction, short waits, warmth and caring of my office personnel.• In many ways it's worth the wait.• A lot of patients face a two-year wait for treatment.have a ... wait• Well, he would just have to wait.• I would simply have to wait and see.• But why did we have to wait 30 years to learn about them?• Economists will have to wait a while for how the federal government read Massachusetts' employment situation last month.• We will have to wait and keep an eye on that side of it.• We will have to wait and see whether caper berries take over when fromagefrais and raspberry vinegar are exhausted.• That would have to wait until the experiment was done.Origin wait1 (1100-1200) Old North French waitier “to watch”wait1 verb →10-17
→n GRAMMAR1 →n COLLOCATIONS1 →THESAURUS1 →5 FREQUENCY1
→PHRASAL VERBS1wait2 nounLDOCE OnlineChinese
→n GRAMMAR1 →n COLLOCATIONS1 →THESAURUS1 →5 FREQUENCY1
→PHRASAL VERBS1wait2 nounLDOCE OnlineChinese
not do something until Corpus somewhere or stay to
wait
wait1 S1 W1 /weɪt/ 
verb
Hurry up__ Everyone’s waiting.
Would you mind waiting outside?
wait for
a queue of people waiting for a bus
Wait for me__
wait for somebody/something to do something
She paused, waiting for Myles to say something.
I sat waiting patiently for the wedding to end.
wait until/till
I’ll wait till you come back.
wait (for) three hours/two weeks etc
Can you wait for five minutes?
We’ve been waiting ages.
wait to do something
Are you waiting to use the phone?
keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, especially by arriving late)
I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.
► Do not say that you ‘are waiting’ someone or something. Say that you are waiting for someone or something.
2. SOMETHING HAS NOT HAPPENED [intransitive] if you are waiting for something that you expect or hope will happen or arrive, it has not happened or arrived yet:
‘Have you heard about the job?’ ‘No, I’m still waiting.’
wait for
I’m still waiting for my results.
wait for somebody/something to do something
I’m waiting for him to realize how stupid he’s been.
3. wait a minute/second/moment etc spoken
a. used to ask someone not to leave or start doing something immediately:
Wait a second, I’ll get my coat and come with you.
Wait a moment, just let me think.
b. used to interrupt someone, especially because you do not agree with what they are saying:
Wait a minute__ That’s not what we agreed__
c. used when you suddenly think of, remember, or notice something:
Wait a minute, I’ve got a better idea.
4. somebody can’t wait/can hardly wait spoken
a. used to emphasize that someone is very excited about something and is eager for it to happen:
We’re going to Australia on Saturday – I can’t wait__
can’t wait to do something
I can’t wait to tell Gloria the good news.
Laura could hardly wait to see the twins again.
somebody can’t wait/can hardly wait for
I can’t wait for the summer.
b. used humorously to say that something seems likely to be very boring:
A lecture on transformational grammar? I can hardly wait__
5. something can/can’t wait spoken if something can wait, it is not very urgent. If something can’t wait, it is very urgent:
Go home. The report can wait till tomorrow.
6. wait and see spoken used to say that someone should be patient because they will find out about something later:
‘What’s for dinner?’ ‘Wait and see.’
We will just have to wait and see how things develop.
7. wait until/till ... spoken used when you are excited about telling or showing someone something:
Wait till you see Gaby’s new house__
8. be waiting (for somebody) if something is waiting for you, it is ready for you to use, collect etc:
There’ll be a rental car waiting for you at the airport.
Come round at eight and I’ll have dinner waiting.
9. wait your turn to stay calm until it is your turn to do something, instead of trying to move ahead of other people:
I’ve got two hands and there are three of you. So you’ll have to wait your turn__
10. something is (well) worth waiting for spoken used to say that something is very good, even though it takes a long time to come:
Their new album was worth waiting for.
11. (just) you wait spoken
a. British English used to warn or threaten someone:
I’ll get you back for what you’ve done, just you wait.
b. used to tell someone you are sure something will happen:
It’ll be a huge success. Just you wait.
12. what are you waiting for? spoken used to tell someone to do something immediately:
Well, what are you waiting for? Go and apologize.
13. what are we waiting for? spoken used to say in a cheerful way that you think everyone should start doing something immediately:
What are we waiting for? Let’s go eat.
14. wait for it British English spoken
a. used just before you tell someone something that is funny or surprising:
His name was – wait for it – Mr Bacon.
b. used to tell someone not to do something until the correct time because they seem very impatient to do it now
15. be waiting in the wings to be ready to do something if it is necessary or if a suitable time comes:
Other firms are waiting in the wings, ready to step in and make an offer should the current deal fall through.
16. wait tables American English to work in a restaurant serving food and drink to people at their tables:
I spent the summer waiting tables.
17. (play) a/the waiting game if you play a waiting game, you try to gain an advantage for yourself in a particular situation by deliberately doing nothing until you have seen what other people do
■ adverbs
▪wait two hours/ten minutes etc William waited an hour for his sister to arrive.
▪wait long (=wait a long time – used especially in questions or negative sentences) She did not have to wait long for a train.
▪wait ages informal especially British English (=wait a long time) I had to wait ages for a bus.
▪patiently They patiently waited for the rain to stop.
▪impatiently He waited impatiently for a reply.
▪anxiously All his friends were waiting anxiously for their exam results.
▪wait expectantly (=hoping that something good or exciting will happen soon) He took out his camera and waited expectantly.
■ phrases
▪keep somebody waiting He kept us waiting for half an hour.
▪wait with bated breath (=while feeling very anxious or excited) She waited with bated breath to see what he would say.
▪wait in vain (=wait for something that never happens) They waited in vain for their son to come home.
▪ wait to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc: I’ll wait here while you call him. | 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. | 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. | 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). | In February, nearly 200,000 prisoners were awaiting trial. | The soldiers awaited the order to advance.
wait around (also wait about British English) phrasal verb
to stay in the same place and do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen, someone to arrive etc:
Movie-making involves acting for ten minutes and then waiting around for two hours.
We’d better be going. We can’t wait about like this any longer.
wait behind phrasal verb British English
to stay somewhere after other people have left:
She waited behind to help Debbie with the clearing up.
wait in phrasal verb British English
to stay at home and wait there for someone to arrive:
I have to wait in for the repair man.
wait on somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to serve food and drink to someone at their table, especially in a restaurant
2. to wait for a particular event, piece of information etc, especially before doing something or making a decision:
We’re waiting on the blood test results.
3. wait on somebody hand and foot to do everything for someone while they do nothing – used to show disapproval:
His wife waits on him hand and foot.
wait something ↔ out phrasal verb
if you wait out an event, period, or time, especially an unpleasant one, you wait for it to finish:
Let’s find a place where we can wait out the storm.
wait up phrasal verb
1. to wait for someone to return before you go to bed
wait up for
Don’t wait up for me; I may be late.
2. Wait up__ American English used to tell someone to stop, so that you can talk to them or go with them:
‘Wait up__’ he called.
wait2 noun [singular]
a period of time in which you wait for something to happen, someone to arrive etc
wait for
The average wait for an appointment at the clinic was eight weeks.
long/three-hour/two-week etc wait
There was an hour wait before the next train departed.
They’ll have a long wait.
⇨ lie in wait at lie1(8)
| I |
verb Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old North French
Origin: waitier 'to watch'
1. NOT GO/START SOMETHING [intransitive] to stay somewhere or not do something until something else happens, someone arrives etc:Language: Old North French
Origin: waitier 'to watch'
wait for
wait for somebody/something to do something
wait until/till
wait (for) three hours/two weeks etc
wait to do something
keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, especially by arriving late)
► Do not say that you ‘are waiting’ someone or something. Say that you are waiting for someone or something.
2. SOMETHING HAS NOT HAPPENED [intransitive] if you are waiting for something that you expect or hope will happen or arrive, it has not happened or arrived yet:
wait for
wait for somebody/something to do something
3. wait a minute/second/moment etc spoken
a. used to ask someone not to leave or start doing something immediately:
b. used to interrupt someone, especially because you do not agree with what they are saying:
c. used when you suddenly think of, remember, or notice something:
4. somebody can’t wait/can hardly wait spoken
a. used to emphasize that someone is very excited about something and is eager for it to happen:
can’t wait to do something
somebody can’t wait/can hardly wait for
b. used humorously to say that something seems likely to be very boring:
5. something can/can’t wait spoken if something can wait, it is not very urgent. If something can’t wait, it is very urgent:
6. wait and see spoken used to say that someone should be patient because they will find out about something later:
7. wait until/till ... spoken used when you are excited about telling or showing someone something:
8. be waiting (for somebody) if something is waiting for you, it is ready for you to use, collect etc:
9. wait your turn to stay calm until it is your turn to do something, instead of trying to move ahead of other people:
10. something is (well) worth waiting for spoken used to say that something is very good, even though it takes a long time to come:
11. (just) you wait spoken
a. British English used to warn or threaten someone:
b. used to tell someone you are sure something will happen:
12. what are you waiting for? spoken used to tell someone to do something immediately:
13. what are we waiting for? spoken used to say in a cheerful way that you think everyone should start doing something immediately:
14. wait for it British English spoken
a. used just before you tell someone something that is funny or surprising:
b. used to tell someone not to do something until the correct time because they seem very impatient to do it now
15. be waiting in the wings to be ready to do something if it is necessary or if a suitable time comes:
16. wait tables American English to work in a restaurant serving food and drink to people at their tables:
17. (play) a/the waiting game if you play a waiting game, you try to gain an advantage for yourself in a particular situation by deliberately doing nothing until you have seen what other people do
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wait around (also wait about British English) phrasal verb
to stay in the same place and do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen, someone to arrive etc:
wait behind phrasal verb British English
to stay somewhere after other people have left:
wait in phrasal verb British English
to stay at home and wait there for someone to arrive:
wait on somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to serve food and drink to someone at their table, especially in a restaurant
2. to wait for a particular event, piece of information etc, especially before doing something or making a decision:
3. wait on somebody hand and foot to do everything for someone while they do nothing – used to show disapproval:
wait something ↔ out phrasal verb
if you wait out an event, period, or time, especially an unpleasant one, you wait for it to finish:
wait up phrasal verb
1. to wait for someone to return before you go to bed
wait up for
2. Wait up__ American English used to tell someone to stop, so that you can talk to them or go with them:
| II |
noun [singular]a period of time in which you wait for something to happen, someone to arrive etc
wait for
long/three-hour/two-week etc wait
⇨ lie in wait at lie1(8)
especially
especially
especially