# wait for sb/sth

CEFR A1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wait-for-sb-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

To stay in one place or delay doing something until a person arrives or something happens.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am waiting the bus." but "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.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.