What is wait? Pronunciation and usage in English

wait means . Learn how to pronounce and use wait through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of wait

waitverb

/weɪt/
Definition & pronunciation of wait

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "wait" in English. It's a tricky one for some! Here's a breakdown of the sounds and how to put them together:

1. The Core Sounds:

  • "W": Pronounced like the "w" in "water" - a simple, quick "wuh."
  • "Ai": This is the tricky part. It's not like the "ai" in "kite" or "eye." It's a diphthong – a combination of two vowel sounds blended together. Specifically, it sounds like:
    • "eye" (as in "kite") followed by "ah" (as in "father").

2. Putting it Together:

So, you essentially say: "wuh-eye-ah"

3. Emphasis & Nuances:

  • Stress: The stress falls on the first syllable: "wait" (wuh-eye-ah).
  • Speed: It's a quick, clipped pronunciation. Don't linger on any of the sounds.
  • American vs. British:
    • American: Often more like "wuh-eye-ah" – relatively quick and clear.
    • British: Can be slightly more drawn out, almost like “way-t.” But it’s still predominantly "wuh-eye-ah.”

Resources to Help You Hear It:

  • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce wait" on Google. It usually has a little audio icon you can click to hear a native speaker.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/wait/ – This website has pronunciations from many different speakers around the world.
  • YouTube: Search for "How to pronounce wait" on YouTube - several videos demonstrate the sound.

Practice Tip: Say it slowly at first, really focusing on separating the "wuh," "eye," and "ah" sounds. Then, gradually speed up until you can say it smoothly.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (Knowing your native language can help me identify potential pronunciation challenges you might have).

Usage and examples with the word wait in English

Let's break down how to use the word "wait" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings and ways to use it. Here's a comprehensive breakdown:

1. As a Verb – To Remain Stationary While Expecting Something

  • Basic Meaning: This is the most common usage. It means to remain in a particular place until something happens or someone arrives.
    • Example: “Please wait here until I finish my phone call.”
    • Example: “We had to wait for the bus for an hour.”
    • Example: “She waited patiently at the restaurant for her reservation.”

2. As a Verb – To Delay Something

  • Meaning: To cause something to be delayed.
    • Example: “I had to wait him out – he wouldn’t leave until he got his answer.” (Meaning: I stayed there, delaying him until he gave me the answer.)
    • Example: "The rain waited us out, so we could finally go for a walk." (Meaning: The rain stopped, allowing us to go out.)

3. Phrases Using "Wait"

Here are some common phrases that use "wait":

  • Wait a minute: (Pause briefly) “Wait a minute, let me think about that.”
  • Wait for: (Expressing anticipation) "I'm waiting for the results of my test."
  • Wait on: (Formal, usually referring to service) “The waiter waited on the table.” (Historically, this meant attending to a customer's needs.)
  • Wait for ages/forever: (Extended period) “I waited for ages for her to reply.”
  • Waiting room: (A place where people wait) "We sat in the waiting room while the doctor examined the patient."
  • Wait and see: (To postpone judgment and observe) "Let's wait and see what happens.”
  • Don't wait: (Urging someone not to delay) "Don't wait, call them now!"

4. "Wait" as an Interjection (Less Common)

  • Meaning: Expressing surprise or a brief hesitation.
    • Example: "Wait! Did you hear that?" (Used to get someone's attention or pause the conversation briefly)

5. Grammatical Points

  • "Waiting" (Present Participle): Used as an adjective to describe someone who is waiting. “She is waiting for the train.”
  • "Waited" (Past Simple): Used to describe something that happened in the past. “I waited until he arrived.”
  • "Will wait": Expressing a future intention. “I will wait for you here.”

Tips for Using "Wait" Correctly

  • Context is key: The meaning of "wait" depends heavily on the context of the sentence.
  • Consider alternatives: Sometimes, words like "delay," "remain," or "anticipate" might be more precise.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What specifically are you trying to use "wait" for? (e.g., writing a story, having a conversation, understanding a specific sentence?)
  • Can you give me an example sentence you're struggling with?

Synonyms for the word wait

Idioms of the word wait

an accident/a disaster waiting to happen
a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave
  • Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen.
(waiting) in the wings
ready to take over a particular job or be used in a particular situation when needed
  • She was aware of a whole host of ambitious young managers waiting in the wings.
  • There's a wealth of talent waiting in the wings of British theatre.
I, they, etc. can’t wait/can hardly wait
used when you are emphasizing that somebody is very excited about something or keen to do it
  • The children can't wait for Christmas to come.
  • I can hardly wait to see him again.
keep somebody waiting
to make somebody have to wait or be delayed, especially because you arrive late
  • I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
let the dust settle | wait for the dust to settle
to wait for a situation to become clear or certain
  • He waited for the dust to settle after the election before making any new decisions.
wait and see
used to tell somebody that they must be patient and wait to find out about something later
  • We'll just have to wait and see—there's nothing we can do at the moment.
  • a wait-and-see policy
  • ‘Where are we going?’ ‘Wait and see!’
wait at table
(formal)to serve food to people, for example at a formal meal
    wait for it
    used to say that you are about to tell somebody something that is surprising
    • They're off on a trip, to—wait for it—the Maldives!
    used to tell somebody not to start doing something yet, but to wait until you tell them
      wait a minute/moment/second
      to wait for a short time
      • Can you wait a second while I make a call?
      • Hey! Wait a minute! I'll come with you!
      used when you have just noticed or remembered something, or had a sudden idea
      • Wait a minute—this isn't the right key.
      wait on somebody hand and foot
      (disapproving)to take care of somebody’s needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves
      • He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot.
      wait tables
      (North American English)to work serving food to people in a restaurant
        wait till/until…
        used to show that you are very excited about telling or showing something to somebody
        • Wait till you see what I've found!
        used to threaten to punish somebody or do something bad to them
        • Wait till I get my hands on him!
        what are we waiting for?
        (informal)used to suggest that you should all start doing what you have been discussing
          what are you waiting for?
          (informal)used to tell somebody to do something now rather than later
          • If the car needs cleaning, what are you waiting for?
          (just) you wait
          used to emphasize a threat, warning or promise
          • I'll be famous one day, just you wait!

          Practice with vocabulary wait

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. Please ______ patiently while the system processes your request.
          2. The team decided to ______ the project until new funding was secured.
          3. I'll ______ for your confirmation before booking the conference room.
          4. Applicants should ______ a response within two weeks of their interview.

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

          1. Due to the technical issue, we will have to _______ the system restart. a) wait for b) await c) rush d) complete

          2. Please ______ patiently in the designated area until your appointment time. a) wait b) proceed c) hurry d) depart

          3. The project timeline requires us to ______ for client feedback before the next phase. a) wait b) ignore c) bypass d) accelerate

          4. The board voted to _______ the decision until more information becomes available. a) postpone b) expedite c) finalize d) mandate

          5. We need to _______ a reliable internet connection to stream the conference smoothly. a) ensure b) neglect c) disregard d) interrupt

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. We cannot proceed until we receive official authorization.
          2. There's a significant delay in the processing of applications.
          3. The company plans to complete the merger by year-end.

          Answer:

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. wait
          2. postpone / delay
          3. wait
          4. expect / anticipate

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

          1. a) wait for, b) await
          2. a) wait
          3. a) wait
          4. a) postpone
          5. a) ensure

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. We will have to wait for official authorization before proceeding. (Alternative: We need to wait until we receive official authorization to proceed.)
          2. There's a significant waiting time for the processing of applications. (Alternative: Applicants face a significant waiting period for their applications to be processed.)
          3. The company aims to complete the merger by year-end. (Alternative: The company intends to complete the merger by year-end.)

          Comment ()