word-vault

{ "term": "wait", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "wait", "heSheIt": "waits" }, "pastSimple": "waited", "pastParticiple": "waited", "ingForm": "waiting" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to stay where you are or delay doing something until somebody/something comes or something happens", "sensetop": "wait + adv./prep.wait for somebody/somethingwait for somebody/something to do somethingwait to do somethingwait your turn", "labels": "(especially North American English)", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "She rang the bell and waited." }, { "text": "The President agreed to speak to the waiting journalists." }, { "text": "They **waited patiently** while I got ready." }, { "text": "I **waited and waited**, but the bus didn't come." }, { "text": "Have you been **waiting long**?", "contextForm": "wait + adv./prep." }, { "text": "to **wait (for) hours/days/weeks/months/years**" }, { "text": "I’ve been waiting (for) twenty minutes." }, { "text": "I'll **wait outside** until the meeting's over." }, { "text": "I had to **wait in line** at the bank." }, { "text": "Wait for me!", "contextForm": "wait for somebody/something" }, { "text": "to **wait for a bus**" }, { "text": "I'm still **waiting for the results** of my blood test." }, { "text": "He smiled, **waiting for an answer** to his question." }, { "text": "We're waiting for the rain to stop before we go out.", "contextForm": "wait for somebody/something to do something" }, { "text": "Hurry up! We're waiting to go.", "contextForm": "wait to do something" }, { "text": "We'll have to wait until it stops raining." }, { "text": "You'll just have to wait your turn *(= wait until your turn comes)*.", "contextForm": "wait your turn" }, { "text": "He sat waiting to board the plane." }, { "text": "We're waiting to hear back from them." }, { "text": "We had several months of waiting for something to happen." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["a while", "long", "forever"], "verb + wait": ["have to", "must", "can hardly"], "preposition": ["for", "till", "until"], "phrases": [ "can’t afford to wait", "keep somebody waiting", "wait a long time" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to hope or watch for something to happen, especially for a long time", "sensetop": "wait for somethingwait for somebody/something to do somethingwait to do somethingwait your chance", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Leeds United had waited for success for eighteen years.", "contextForm": "wait for something" }, { "text": "This is just the opportunity I've been waiting for." }, { "text": "They are waiting for the right moment to make their move." }, { "text": "He's waiting for me to make a mistake.", "contextForm": "wait for somebody/something to do something" }, { "text": "I've been **waiting a long time** to say that to her.", "contextForm": "wait to do something" }, { "text": "I waited my chance and slipped out when no one was looking.", "contextForm": "wait your chance" }, { "text": "We simply cannot afford to wait any longer." }, { "text": "I waited with bated breath for what would happen next." }, { "text": "Their parents waited anxiously for news." }, { "text": "She had to wait a long time for the right man to come along." }, { "text": "They waited in vain for a response." }, { "text": "We can't wait forever." }, { "text": "You might have to wait a while before you get an answer." }, { "text": "You'll have to wait until you're older." }, { "text": "He was just waiting for the chance to make fun of me." }, { "text": "I kept waiting for it to get better but it did not." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["a while", "long", "forever"], "verb + wait": ["have to", "must", "can hardly"], "preposition": ["for", "till", "until"], "phrases": [ "can’t afford to wait", "keep somebody waiting", "wait a long time" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to be ready for somebody to have or use", "sensetop": "wait for somebodywait to do something", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Your car is waiting, sir." }, { "text": "When we arrived on the platform, there was a train waiting." }, { "text": "There's a letter waiting for you at home.", "contextForm": "wait for somebody" }, { "text": "There was a nice surprise waiting for me when I got back." }, { "text": "The hotel had a taxi waiting to collect us.", "contextForm": "wait to do something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to be left to be dealt with at a later time because immediate action is not needed", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "I've got some calls to make but they **can wait** until tomorrow." }, { "text": "I'm afraid this **can't wait**. It's very important." }, { "text": "We've just spent a fortune on a new roof, so the new car is going to **have to wait**." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave", "examples": [ { "text": "Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen." } ], "topics": ["Danger"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "ready to take over a particular job or be used in a particular situation when needed", "examples": [ { "text": "She was aware of a whole host of ambitious young managers waiting in the wings." }, { "text": "There's a wealth of talent waiting in the wings of British theatre." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used when you are emphasizing that somebody is very excited about something or keen to do it", "examples": [ { "text": "The children **can't wait for** Christmas to come." }, { "text": "I can hardly wait to see him again." }, { "text": "I can't wait to see their new baby." }, { "text": "I can hardly wait for my holiday!" }, { "text": "I could hardly wait for the weekend." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to make somebody have to wait or be delayed, especially because you arrive late", "examples": [ { "text": "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to wait for a situation to become clear or certain", "examples": [ { "text": "He waited for the dust to settle after the election before making any new decisions." } ], "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to tell somebody that they must be patient and wait to find out about something later", "examples": [ { "text": "We'll just have to wait and see—there's nothing we can do at the moment." }, { "text": "a wait-and-see policy" }, { "text": "‘Where are we going?’ ‘Wait and see!’" }, { "text": "You'll just have to wait and see what you present is." }, { "text": "We'll wait and see what the weather's like before we make a decision." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to serve food to people, for example at a formal meal", "labels": "(formal)", "examples": [], "topics": ["Cooking and eating"] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "used to say that you are about to tell somebody something that is surprising", "examples": [ { "text": "They're off on a trip, to—wait for it—the Maldives!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "used to tell somebody not to start doing something yet, but to wait until you tell them", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to wait for a short time", "examples": [ { "text": "Can you wait a second while I make a call?" }, { "text": "Hey! Wait a minute! I'll come with you!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "used when you have just noticed or remembered something, or had a sudden idea", "examples": [ { "text": "Wait a minute—this isn't the right key." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to take care of somebody’s needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves", "labels": "(disapproving)", "examples": [ { "text": "He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to work serving food to people in a restaurant", "labels": "(North American English)", "examples": [], "topics": ["Cooking and eating"] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "used to show that you are very excited about telling or showing something to somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "Wait till you see what I've found!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "used to threaten to punish somebody or do something bad to them", "examples": [ { "text": "Wait till I get my hands on him!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to suggest that you should all start doing what you have been discussing", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [], "topics": ["Suggestions and advice"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to tell somebody to do something now rather than later", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "If the car needs cleaning, what are you waiting for?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to emphasize a threat, warning or promise", "examples": [ { "text": "I'll be famous one day, just you wait!" } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/weɪt/", "audio": "wa/wait/wait__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/weɪts/", "audio": "wa/wait/waits__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪd/", "audio": "wa/wait/waited__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪŋ/", "audio": "wa/wait/waiting__gb_2.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/weɪt/", "audio": "wa/wait/wait__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/weɪts/", "audio": "wa/wait/waits__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪd/", "audio": "wa/wait/waited__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈweɪtɪŋ/", "audio": "wa/wait/waiting__us_2.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old Northern French waitier, of Germanic origin; related to the verb wake. Early senses included ‘lie in wait (for)’, ‘observe carefully’, and ‘be watchful’." }