Phrasal verb
wait for sb/sth
Definition
phrasal verb. To stay in one place or delay doing something until a person arrives or something happens.
phrasal verb. A prepositional verb meaning to remain in a state of expectation or inactivity until a specified person, thing, or event arrives or occurs.
Examples
“I am waiting for the bus to arrive.”
“We waited for the rain to stop before we left the café and walked home.”
“The entire nation waited for news from the summit, its collective hope hanging precariously on the outcome of the negotiations.”
Examples
simple
“I am waiting for the bus to arrive.”
contextual
“We waited for the rain to stop before we left the café and walked home.”
complex
“The entire nation waited for news from the summit, its collective hope hanging precariously on the outcome of the negotiations.”
Usage
The object following 'for' is the person, thing, or event that you are expecting.
Teaching tip
Contrast 'wait for' (to await) with 'wait on' (to serve, as in a restaurant), a common point of confusion for learners.
Pitfall
I am waiting the bus.
I am waiting for the bus.
The verb 'wait' is intransitive and requires the preposition 'for' to connect it to the object you are expecting.
Phrasal verb
Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
wait + for + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/wait-for-sb-sth