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REFERENCE

await

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //əˈweɪt// UK //ɐwˈeɪt// await Archaic Formal

v. to wait for something that you expect to happen. It is more formal than the word 'wait' and you use it when you are talking about a result, a decision, or an event.

v. to wait for or expect something; to stay in a state of expectation until an event occurs. Transitive in nature, it functions as a more formal alternative to 'wait for'.


SIMPLE

We await your reply with great interest.

CONTEXTUAL

The legal team must await the judge's final ruling before they can file any further motions.

COMPLEX

While the scientists await the results of the peer review process, they have refrained from making any public statements regarding the potential breakthrough.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English awaiten, from Old Northern French awaitier (“to lie in wait for, watch, observe”), originally especially with a hostile sense; itself from a- (“to”) + waitier (“to watch”). More at English wait.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

Pitfall

we await for your arrivalwe await your arrivalUnlike 'wait', the verb 'await' is transitive and must not be followed by the preposition 'for'.

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