wait

v

1. stay, rest, remain, abide; linger, loiter, tarry; await, wait for, Dial. wait on; stand by, Inf. hang around or about, Inf. stick around; pause, hesitate, hover, hold back, hang back, bide one's time; hold one's horses, Inf. sit tight, Sl. sweat it out, Sl. sweat blood or bullets; stand in line, line up, Chiefly Brit. queue or queue up.

2. await, anticipate, expect, look forward to, count on or upon, have in prospect; watch for or watch out for, look for or look out for; be ready, Inf. be psyched for or be psyched up for; be on the lookout, keep a sharp eye or lookout; lie in ambush, set a trap for.

3. delay, postpone, defer, put off, hold off or up on, lay [s.t.] over, refrain or abstain from, let [s.t.] hang fire, put [s.t.] on ice or on a back burner; play a waiting game; adjourn, suspend, recess; table, shelve, pigeonhole, prorogue.

4. procrastinate, temporize, U.S. Congress. filibuster; Inf. stall, drag one's feet, Inf. footdrag; dally, dillydally, dawdle, poke along, kill or waste time; linger, loiter.

5. be in readiness, be available; make available, reserve, hold, set aside; waitlist.

6. wait on

a. serve, service, attend to, attend, minister to.b. tend table, serve table, wait table; Inf. waitress.c. supply, furnish, provide, accommodate.d. wait for. See(def. 1).

7. wait up

a. stay up, stay awake, keep vigil.b. stop, halt, stop in one's tracks, slow down, slow up, go easy.

n

8. delay, holdup, holding pattern; halt, stop, stoppage; discontinuation, suspension, abeyance, cessation, moratorium, prorogation; postponement, deferment, deferral.

9. interval, interruption, hiatus, recess; respite, break, pause, rest, time-out, breath, breather, breathing spell; waiting period, interim, intermission