# queuing

/ˈkjuɪŋ/ (US) · /kjˈuːɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/queuing
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

the act of waiting in a line for something. It is common in places like shops, banks, or bus stops.

For teachers: the action of waiting in a line, typically to receive a service or enter a venue. Often used as a gerund to describe the social practice or the physical act of waiting.

## Examples

- Queuing for tickets took over an hour.
- The store manager introduced a new system to make queuing more efficient during the busy holiday season.
- While some cultures view queuing as a fundamental social contract of fairness, others may perceive it as an inefficient use of time that invites opportunistic behavior.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am queuing for the bus since ten minutes." but "I have been queuing for the bus for ten minutes." — Learners often use the present continuous instead of the present perfect continuous for actions that started in the past and continue to the present.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used as a gerund; often takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the object of the wait.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.