await

verb

ə-ˈwāt How to pronounce await (audio)
awaited; awaiting; awaits
Synonyms of awaitnext

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

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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.
Machado then headed to Caracas with stops along the way as thousands of people joined the caravan or awaited it. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026 What awaits The Chiefs played the NFL’s easiest schedule through six weeks. — Sam McDowell 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026 On September 4th, Henderson received a reminder of the retribution that might await her. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 Traders are awaiting the Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday. — Ananya Chetia,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Oct. 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

Rhymes for await

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Browse Nearby Words

Awadhi
await
Awaji
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Await.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/await. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

await

verb
ə-ˈwāt How to pronounce await (audio)
1
: to wait for : expect
await a train
2
: to be ready or waiting for
a reward awaits you
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