Synonyms for wait

noun

verb

1. To await

   expect, anticipate, tarry, pause, wait for, look for, delay for, watch for, pray for, abide, dally, remain, idle, bide one's time, mark time, fill time, wait up for, sit up for, stay up for, lie in wait for, ambush, lie low*, hole up*, hang around*, stick around*, cool one's heels*.

   Antonyms leave*, hurry*, act.

2. To attend at table

   serve, deliver, tend, act as waiter, act as waitress, arrange, set, ready, place on the table, help, portion, bus dishes.

3. To be left

   have left, be on the agenda, have to do; see remain 3.

wait suggests remaining in place in anticipation of something wait for me at the library; stay, a more general term, implies a continuing in a specified place stay there until you hear from me; remain specifically suggests a staying behind while others go he alone remained at home; abide, now somewhat archaic, implies a staying fixed for a relatively long period, as in a settled residence he came for a visit and has been abiding here since; tarry and linger imply a staying on after the required or expected time for departure, linger esp. implying that this is deliberate, as from reluctance to leave we tarried in town two days, he lingered at his sweetheart's door