- wait
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} nounADJECTIVE▪ endless, lengthy, long▪
We had a long wait to see the doctor.
▪ short▪ agonizing, anxious, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous, worrying (all esp. BrE)▪ frustrating▪ boring, tedious▪ two-hour, one-month, three-year, etc.VERB + WAIT▪ face (esp. BrE), have▪The accused faces an agonizing wait while the jury considers its verdict.
PREPOSITION▪ wait for▪a short wait for an ambulance
PHRASES▪ be worth the wait▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}The dress was so beautiful when it arrived that it was well worth the wait.
verbADVERB▪ a while, long▪You might have to wait a while before you get an answer.
▪Have you been waiting long?
▪ forever▪We can't wait forever.
▪ in vain▪They waited in vain for a response.
▪ quietly, silently▪ patiently, politely▪He waited patiently while she got ready.
▪ anxiously, impatiently, nervously, tensely▪Their parents waited anxiously for news.
▪ breathlessly, eagerly, expectantly, with bated breath▪I waited with bated breath for what would happen next.
▪ about (esp. BrE), aroundVERB + WAIT▪ have to, must▪You'll have to wait until you're older.
▪ can hardly, cannot▪I could hardly wait for the weekend.
▪I can't wait to see their new baby.
PREPOSITION▪ for▪I'm waiting for a bus.
▪ till, until▪We'll have to wait until it stops raining.
PHRASES▪ can't afford to wait▪We simply cannot afford to wait any longer.
▪ keep sb waiting▪I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
▪ wait and see▪You'll just have to wait and see what you present is.
▪ wait a long time▪She had to wait a long time for the right man to come along.
▪ wait a minute, moment, second, etc.▪Hey! Wait a minute! I'll come with you!
▪ wait and see▪We'll wait and see what the weather's like before we make a decision.
▪ wait in line (esp. AmE)▪I had to wait in line at the bank.
▪ wait your turn▪You'll have to wait your turn. These people all come before you.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
