English dictionary

waiting Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the plural of waiting?

The plural of waiting is waitings.

/ˈweɪtɪŋ/

What Does Waiting Mean?

Waiting is a verb that means present participle and gerund of wait. As a noun, it means Watching, observation; keeping watch, guarding. As a noun, it means Watching.

Word Facts for Waiting

Part of speech	verb, noun
Pronunciation	/ˈweɪtɪŋ/
Synonyms	ready, ready and waiting and wait
Plural	waitings

Waiting Definition (Verb)

present participle and gerund of wait
Your guest has been waiting for you. They hurried into the waiting car.

Waiting as a Noun

Watching, observation; keeping watch, guarding.
The act of staying or remaining in expectation.
Waiting for any news in a waiting room.
Attendance, service.

Verb

To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)
To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.
Wait here until your car arrives.
To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.
She used to wait down at the Dew Drop Inn.
To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.
To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany.
To defer or postpone (especially a meal).
to wait dinner
To remain chaste while one's lover is unavailable.

Noun

Watching.

Synonyms of Waiting

ready ready and waiting wait attend escortgo withbestand serve tend defer postpone awaitwait forhold one's breath wait on wait upon

Waiting synonyms and antonyms →

Waiting in a Sentence

Your guest has been waiting for you. They hurried into the waiting car.

Waiting for any news in a waiting room.

Wait here until your car arrives.

She used to wait down at the Dew Drop Inn.

to wait dinner

Word Forms & Grammar

waiting

waiting (countable and uncountable, plural waitings)

Origin of Waiting

Origin 1: From Middle English waitinge, waytynge, waitende, weytende, waitand, waytand, equivalent to wait +‎ -ing.

Origin 2: From Middle English waitynge, waytynge, equivalent to wait +‎ -ing.

Waiting: Your Questions Answered

Is waiting a verb or a noun?

Waiting is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.

What is another word for waiting?

Words with a similar meaning to waiting include ready, ready and waiting and wait. See the full list of waiting synonyms and antonyms.