Wait vs. Await: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Wait is a general term meaning to stay in place until an event occurs; await is more formal, implying expectation of a specific event.
Key Differences
Wait refers to the act of staying in one place or delaying action until a particular time or event. Await, on the other hand, implies an expectancy and is often used in more formal contexts or literary settings. While waiting can be passive, awaiting often carries a sense of anticipation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
In usage, wait is a verb that can stand alone or be followed by an object with a preposition (like for or until). Await requires a direct object, meaning something or someone must be awaited. This grammatical difference subtly changes how each word is used in a sentence.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
The word wait is versatile, applying to a wide range of scenarios, from mundane to significant. Await, however, is usually reserved for more significant events, emphasizing the importance or eagerness of the expectation. This nuance affects the tone and formality of communication.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
In terms of connotation, wait can sometimes imply impatience or a lack of control over the timing. In contrast, await often suggests a preparedness or readiness for the event in question, conveying a more proactive stance.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Finally, wait is more commonly used in everyday speech due to its simplicity and broader applicability. Await tends to appear in written, formal, or literary contexts, where its more specific and formal tone is appropriate.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Often implies patience or delay
Suggests expectancy and preparedness
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Dec 12, 2023
Frequency in Language
Common in spoken language
More common in written or formal language
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Dec 12, 2023
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Wait and Await Definitions
Wait
To remain stationary or in readiness until something occurs.
Please wait at the bus stop until I arrive.
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
To wait for (an event).
She awaits his return from the trip anxiously.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To delay action or departure.
I will wait for your decision before proceeding.
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
To look forward to something that is expected.
We eagerly await the results of the competition.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To serve or attend to someone.
The waiter will wait on your table shortly.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Await
To be in store for; impending.
A challenging task awaits her at the new job.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To pause for a particular reason or event.
Wait here while I fetch my coat.
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
To be ready for; be in store for.
A surprise awaits around the corner.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
To remain in a state of readiness for.
The audience awaited the singer's performance with excitement.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
(intransitive) To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.
Wait here until your car arrives.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.
She used to wait in this joint.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
(intransitive) To remain faithful to one’s partner or betrothed during a prolonged period of absence.
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
(transitive) To be in store for; to be ready or in waiting for.
Glorious rewards await the good in heaven; eternal suffering awaits mortal sinners in hell.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [formerly waites, wayghtes.]
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
(informal) Tells the other speaker to stop talking, typing etc. for a moment.
Wait. Stop talking for a moment while I get my head straight.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To watch; to observe; to take notice.
"But [unless] ye wait well and be privy,I wot right well, I am but dead," quoth she.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart.
All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
They also serve who only stand and wait.
Haste, my dear father; 't is no time to wait.
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
To wait for; to stay for; to expect. See Expect.
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders.
Awed with these words, in camps they still abide,And wait with longing looks their promised guide.
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
To be in store for; to be ready or in waiting for; as, a glorious reward awaits the good.
O Eve, some farther change awaits us night.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.
He chose a thousand horse, the flower of allHis warlike troops, to wait the funeral.
Remorse and heaviness of heart shall wait thee,And everlasting anguish be thy portion.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To cause to wait; to defer; to postpone; - said of a meal; as, to wait dinner.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.
There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican town of El Paso.
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Dec 05, 2023
Await
Look forward to the probable occurrence of;
We were expecting a visit from our relatives
She is looking to a promotion
He is waiting to be drafted
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen.
Hark! are the waits abroad?
The sound of the waits, rude as may be their minstrelsy, breaks upon the mild watches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony.
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
Time during which some action is awaited;
Instant replay caused too long a delay
He ordered a hold in the action
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
The act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something);
The wait was an ordeal for him
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
Stay in one place and anticipate or expect something;
I had to wait on line for an hour to get the tickets
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
Look forward to the probable occurrence of;
We were expecting a visit from our relatives
She is looking to a promotion
He is waiting to be drafted
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Dec 05, 2023
Wait
To be available or in a state of readiness.
A surprise waits for you at home.
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Dec 05, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'wait' be used without an object?
Yes, 'wait' can be used alone or with an object.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is 'await' interchangeable with 'wait'?
No, 'await' is more formal and requires a direct object.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is 'wait' formal or informal?
'Wait' is less formal and widely used in everyday speech.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Do 'wait' and 'await' have the same meaning?
Their core meanings are similar, but their usage and context differ.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can 'await' be followed by a preposition?
No, 'await' is typically followed directly by the object.
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Dec 12, 2023
Is 'wait on' the same as 'wait for'?
No, 'wait on' means to serve, while 'wait for' means to delay until an event occurs.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can 'await' imply eagerness?
Yes, 'await' often conveys a sense of anticipation or eagerness.
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Dec 12, 2023
What is a common synonym for 'await'?
'Anticipate' is a common synonym for 'await'.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Can 'await' be used in casual conversation?
Yes, but it is less common and more formal.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Does 'await' suggest a longer period than 'wait'?
Not necessarily; the duration depends on context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is 'wait' used more frequently than 'await'?
Yes, 'wait' is more common in everyday language.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is 'wait' appropriate in formal writing?
Yes, though 'await' might be preferred for its formality.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Does 'await' always convey a positive expectation?
No, the expectation can be positive or negative.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is 'wait' used in literature?
Yes, though 'await' is more common in literary contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is it correct to say 'waiting on' for 'waiting for'?
In informal usage, yes, but they have different meanings.
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Dec 12, 2023
Can 'await' be used in legal or formal documents?
Yes, it is often used in formal contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Do 'wait' and 'await' derive from the same root?
Yes, both have origins in Old English with similar meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is 'await' commonly used in spoken English?
It's less common than 'wait' in spoken English.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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