{
    "term": "wait",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "wait",
            "heSheIt": "waits"
        },
        "pastSimple": "waited",
        "pastParticiple": "waited",
        "ingForm": "waiting"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to stay where you are or delay doing something until somebody/something comes or something happens",
            "sensetop": "wait + adv./prep.wait for somebody/somethingwait for somebody/something to do somethingwait to do somethingwait your turn",
            "labels": "(especially North American English)",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She rang the bell and waited."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The President agreed to speak to the waiting journalists."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They **waited patiently** while I got ready."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I **waited and waited**, but the bus didn't come."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have you been **waiting long**?",
                    "contextForm": "wait + adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **wait (for) hours/days/weeks/months/years**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I’ve been waiting (for) twenty minutes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'll **wait outside** until the meeting's over."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I had to **wait in line** at the bank."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Wait for me!",
                    "contextForm": "wait for somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **wait for a bus**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm still **waiting for the results** of my blood test."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He smiled, **waiting for an answer** to his question."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're waiting for the rain to stop before we go out.",
                    "contextForm": "wait for somebody/something to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Hurry up! We're waiting to go.",
                    "contextForm": "wait to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We'll have to wait until it stops raining."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You'll just have to wait your turn *(= wait until your turn comes)*.",
                    "contextForm": "wait your turn"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He sat waiting to board the plane."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're waiting to hear back from them."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We had several months of waiting for something to happen."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["a while", "long", "forever"],
                "verb + wait": ["have to", "must", "can hardly"],
                "preposition": ["for", "till", "until"],
                "phrases": [
                    "can’t afford to wait",
                    "keep somebody waiting",
                    "wait a long time"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to hope or watch for something to happen, especially for a long time",
            "sensetop": "wait for somethingwait for somebody/something to do somethingwait to do somethingwait your chance",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Leeds United had waited for success for eighteen years.",
                    "contextForm": "wait for something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is just the opportunity I've been waiting for."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are waiting for the right moment to make their move."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's waiting for me to make a mistake.",
                    "contextForm": "wait for somebody/something to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I've been **waiting a long time** to say that to her.",
                    "contextForm": "wait to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I waited my chance and slipped out when no one was looking.",
                    "contextForm": "wait your chance"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We simply cannot afford to wait any longer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I waited with bated breath for what would happen next."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their parents waited anxiously for news."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had to wait a long time for the right man to come along."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They waited in vain for a response."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We can't wait forever."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You might have to wait a while before you get an answer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You'll have to wait until you're older."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was just waiting for the chance to make fun of me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I kept waiting for it to get better but it did not."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["a while", "long", "forever"],
                "verb + wait": ["have to", "must", "can hardly"],
                "preposition": ["for", "till", "until"],
                "phrases": [
                    "can’t afford to wait",
                    "keep somebody waiting",
                    "wait a long time"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to be ready for somebody to have or use",
            "sensetop": "wait for somebodywait to do something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Your car is waiting, sir."
                },
                {
                    "text": "When we arrived on the platform, there was a train waiting."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's a letter waiting for you at home.",
                    "contextForm": "wait for somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a nice surprise waiting for me when I got back."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The hotel had a taxi waiting to collect us.",
                    "contextForm": "wait to do something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to be left to be dealt with at a later time because immediate action is not needed",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I've got some calls to make but they **can wait** until tomorrow."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm afraid this **can't wait**. It's very important."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We've just spent a fortune on a new roof, so the new car is going to **have to wait**."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "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",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Danger"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "ready to take over a particular job or be used in a particular situation when needed",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She was aware of a whole host of ambitious young managers waiting in the wings."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's a wealth of talent waiting in the wings of British theatre."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used when you are emphasizing that somebody is very excited about something or keen to do it",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The children **can't wait for** Christmas to come."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can hardly wait to see him again."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can't wait to see their new baby."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can hardly wait for my holiday!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could hardly wait for the weekend."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to make somebody have to wait or be delayed, especially because you arrive late",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to wait for a situation to become clear or certain",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He waited for the dust to settle after the election before making any new decisions."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to tell somebody that they must be patient and wait to find out about something later",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We'll just have to wait and see—there's nothing we can do at the moment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a wait-and-see policy"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Where are we going?’ ‘Wait and see!’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "You'll just have to wait and see what you present is."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We'll wait and see what the weather's like before we make a decision."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to serve food to people, for example at a formal meal",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Cooking and eating"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used to say that you are about to tell somebody something that is surprising",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They're off on a trip, to—wait for it—the Maldives!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used to tell somebody not to start doing something yet, but to wait until you tell them",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to wait for a short time",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Can you wait a second while I make a call?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Hey! Wait a minute! I'll come with you!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used when you have just noticed or remembered something, or had a sudden idea",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Wait a minute—this isn't the right key."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to take care of somebody’s needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves",
            "labels": "(disapproving)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to work serving food to people in a restaurant",
            "labels": "(North American English)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Cooking and eating"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used to show that you are very excited about telling or showing something to somebody",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Wait till you see what I've found!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used to threaten to punish somebody or do something bad to them",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Wait till I get my hands on him!"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to suggest that you should all start doing what you have been discussing",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Suggestions and advice"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to tell somebody to do something now rather than later",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "If the car needs cleaning, what are you waiting for?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to emphasize a threat, warning or promise",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'll be famous one day, just you wait!"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/weɪt/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/wait__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/weɪts/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/waits__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/waited__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/waiting__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/weɪt/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/wait__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/weɪts/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/waits__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪd/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/waited__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪŋ/",
                "audio": "wa/wait/waiting__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old Northern French waitier, of Germanic origin; related to the verb wake. Early senses included ‘lie in wait (for)’, ‘observe carefully’, and ‘be watchful’."
}