AWAIT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

AWAIT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Est. 1828 Dictionary Definition Definition Synonyms Example Sentences Word History Rhymes Entries Near Cite this Entry Citation Kids Definition Kids More from M-W Show more Show more Citation Kids More from M-W Save Word To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In await verb ə-ˈwāt awaited ; awaiting ; awaits Synonyms of await transitive verb 1 a : to wait for We are awaiting his arrival. await a decision b : to remain in abeyance until a treaty awaiting ratification 2 : to be in store for He wonders what awaits him next. 3 obsolete : to lie in wait for intransitive verb 1 : to stay or be in waiting : wait The nation awaited as Congress debated the issue. 2 : to be in store … marched … north to civilization where fame and fortune awaited . — Tom Marvel 3 obsolete : attend Synonyms of await Relevance expect anticipate See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus Examples of await in a Sentence A crowd of people awaited the train. We're eagerly awaiting his arrival. He was arrested and is now in prison awaiting trial. Her long-awaited new novel is finally being published. The same fate awaits us all. Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . The Thunder earned a bit of a break and await the Lakers, potentially without Luka Dončić. — Dan Santaromita, New York Times , 2 May 2026 The dead owners’ trinkets sat and hung everywhere, awaiting estate sale. — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum , 2 May 2026 CharlotteFive reached out to La Vecina for more information on Friday and was awaiting a response. — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer , 1 May 2026 Mosser is awaiting additional information from the governor’s office regarding the initial car crash between the man and agents. — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune , 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for await Word History Etymology Middle English, from Anglo-French aweiter, aguaiter , from a- (from Latin ad- ) + guaiter to watch — more at wait First Known Use 13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3 Time Traveler The first known use of await was in the 13th century See more words from the same century Rhymes for await abate airfreight baseplate berate birthdate birthrate bookplate borate breastplate bromate casemate castrate See All Rhymes for await Browse Nearby Words Awadhi await Awaji See all Nearby Words Cite this Entry Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster “Await.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/await. Accessed 6 May. 2026. Copy Citation Kids Definition await verb ə-ˈwāt 1 : to wait for : expect await a train 2 : to be ready or waiting for a reward awaits you More from Merriam-Webster on await Nglish: Translation of await for Spanish Speakers Last Updated: 2 May 2026 - Updated example sentences Love words? Need even more definitions? Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Merriam-Webster unabridged More from Merriam-Webster Word of the Day flamboyant See Definitions and Examples » Get Word of the Day daily email! Popular in Grammar & Usage See More More Commonly Mispronounced Words 5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'? The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.' Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word? See More Popular in Wordplay See More The Longest Long Words List 9 Other Words for Beautiful The Words of the Week - May 1 Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person? 12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World See More Popular See More More Commonly Mispronounced Words The Longest Long Words List 9 Other Words for Beautiful See More Games & Quizzes See All Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once? Play Blossom Pick the best words! Play The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist Play Name That Tree! A quiz that’s all bark, no bite. Take the quiz See All