SKIP TO CONTENT

await

/əˈweɪt/
/əˈweɪt/
IPA guide

Other forms: awaiting; awaited; awaits

To await is to anticipate or look forward to something. If you're hoping to get a letter from your pen pal, you'll eagerly await the mail carrier's arrival every afternoon.

When you await a phone call, you might sit by the telephone at home or keep your cell phone in your hand. A prisoner who awaits trial is biding his time until his case comes before a judge. Sometimes await implies that some particular outcome is in store for someone: "A terrible surprise awaits her, when she gets home and sees that her dog ate the sofa."

Definitions of await
  1. verb
    look forward to the probable occurrence of
    synonyms: expect, look, wait
    anticipate, expect
    regard something as probable or likely
    see moresee less
    types:
    expect
    look forward to the birth of a child
    look forward
    expect or hope for
    look to
    turn one's interests or expectations towards
    hang on, hold on, hold the line
    hold the phone line open
    anticipate, look for, look to
    be excited or anxious about
    apprehend, quail at
    anticipate with dread or anxiety
Pronunciation
US
/əˈweɪt/
UK
/əˈweɪt/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘await'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family