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A1 noun / adjective / verb (participle) #34 le plus courant 13 min de lecture

waiting

Top 34

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces waiting en 30 secondes

Explication waiting in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'waiting' is one of the first continuous verbs you learn. It describes a very simple, physical action. You use it to talk about everyday situations like waiting for a bus, waiting for a friend at a cafe, or waiting for the rain to stop. At this stage, the focus is on the present continuous form: 'I am waiting.' You learn that 'waiting' usually needs the word 'for' if you mention what you are waiting for. For example, 'I am waiting for my mom.' It is a concrete word that helps you describe what you are doing when you are not moving or when you are staying in one place for a reason. You might also learn 'waiting room' as a common place in a hospital or station. The concept is easy to understand because it is a universal experience. You don't need complex grammar to use it, just the basic 'subject + be + waiting' structure. It helps you explain delays or your current location to others. For instance, if someone calls you and asks where you are, you can say, 'I am at the station, waiting for the train.' This level of use is purely functional and descriptive of immediate physical reality.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'waiting' in more varied contexts and with a slightly wider range of grammar. You might use the past continuous to tell a story: 'I was waiting for the taxi when I saw the accident.' You also start to use 'waiting' as a noun or part of a compound noun more frequently, such as 'waiting list' or 'waiting time.' You understand that waiting can be a bit more abstract, like 'waiting for a better job' or 'waiting for the weekend.' At this level, you are expected to handle the 'waiting for' vs 'waiting to' distinction better. For example, 'I am waiting to buy a ticket' (verb) versus 'I am waiting for a ticket' (noun). You might also encounter the word in common signs or instructions, like 'No waiting' on a street sign, which means you cannot park your car there. Your vocabulary is growing to include the feelings associated with waiting, such as being 'tired of waiting' or 'bored of waiting.' You can describe the duration of the wait using 'for' and 'since' more accurately, such as 'I have been waiting for twenty minutes.' This level moves from simple description to more detailed storytelling and social interaction.

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At the B1 level, 'waiting' becomes a tool for expressing more complex ideas about time and service. You will use the present perfect continuous ('I have been waiting') to express frustration or the length of an ongoing action. You also start to understand the professional use of the word, such as 'waiting tables' in a restaurant. You can use 'waiting' in more complex sentence structures, like participle phrases: 'Waiting for the results, she felt very nervous.' This shows you can link two ideas together. You also begin to learn common idioms and phrases, such as 'wait and see' or 'keep someone waiting.' Your understanding of the word expands to include the 'waiting period' in official contexts, like waiting for a visa or a bank loan. You can discuss the concept of patience and how waiting affects people's moods. You are also more aware of the difference between 'waiting for' and 'awaiting,' though you might still prefer the former. At B1, you can participate in conversations about experiences of waiting, such as long queues at an amusement park or the frustration of a delayed flight, using a range of adjectives to describe the experience.

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At the B2 level, you use 'waiting' with much more nuance and grammatical precision. You understand the subtle difference between 'waiting for' and 'waiting on' and can use them correctly in different registers. You are comfortable using 'waiting' as a gerund in the subject position: 'Waiting is often more stressful than the event itself.' You can use the word in more formal writing to describe systemic delays, such as 'the waiting times in the public health sector.' You also start to use more sophisticated synonyms like 'anticipating' or 'expecting' to avoid repetition and to be more precise. You can understand and use the word in metaphorical ways, such as 'waiting for the right moment' in a business strategy or 'waiting for the dust to settle' after a conflict. Your ability to use 'waiting' in conditional sentences is also developed: 'If I hadn't been waiting for so long, I wouldn't have been so angry.' At this level, you can analyze the role of waiting in society, such as the 'waiting game' in politics or the psychological impact of 'waiting rooms' on patient well-being. You are also aware of the formal 'awaiting' and can use it correctly in business correspondence without the preposition 'for.'

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At the C1 level, your use of 'waiting' is highly sophisticated and context-aware. You can use it to discuss philosophical or existential themes, such as the concept of 'waiting' in literature (e.g., Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot'). You understand the word's role in creating suspense or atmosphere in narrative writing. You can use complex structures like 'There is no point in waiting' or 'It's a matter of waiting it out.' You are also familiar with rare or idiomatic uses, such as 'waiting in the wings' to describe someone ready to take over a role or position. Your vocabulary includes a wide range of synonyms that you can deploy based on the exact shade of meaning you want to convey, such as 'tarrying,' 'lingering,' or 'biding.' You can write detailed reports or essays on the economic impact of 'waiting lists' or the sociology of 'queuing.' You are also sensitive to the register of the word, knowing when 'waiting' sounds too informal and when to use 'awaiting' or 'pending.' Your use of the word is not just about the act of staying in place, but about the strategic, emotional, and systemic implications of delay and readiness in complex human systems.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete, native-like mastery of 'waiting' and all its related forms. You can use the word with absolute precision in any context, from a casual conversation to a highly technical or academic paper. You understand the deepest etymological roots of the word and how its meaning has shifted over centuries. You can play with the word in creative writing, using it to evoke specific moods or to subvert reader expectations. You are familiar with all the idioms, even the most obscure ones, and can use them naturally. You can discuss the 'waiting' state in computer science (e.g., wait states in CPU processing) or the 'waiting' period in legal statutes with total clarity. You can appreciate the subtle irony in phrases like 'the waiting is the hardest part' and can use the word to express complex emotional states that combine anticipation, anxiety, and resignation. Your command of the word allows you to use it as a focal point for deep analysis of human behavior, time perception, and social structures. At this level, 'waiting' is not just a word you know; it is a versatile tool that you can use to navigate and describe the most intricate aspects of the human condition and the physical world.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

waiting en 30 secondes

Waiting is the act of staying in place or delaying action until a specific event or person arrives.
It can function as a verb (present participle), a noun (gerund), or an adjective (describing a purpose).
Commonly used with the preposition 'for' (waiting for) or the infinitive 'to' (waiting to).
It is a universal experience found in travel, healthcare, service industries, and digital interactions.

The concept of waiting is one of the most fundamental human experiences, bridging the gap between a desire and its fulfillment. At its core, waiting is the act of remaining in a particular state or location until a specific event occurs, a person arrives, or a period of time passes. It is not merely the absence of action, but often a deliberate choice to stay put in anticipation of something else. In our modern, fast-paced world, waiting is frequently viewed through the lens of frustration or inefficiency, yet it remains an unavoidable component of daily life. Whether you are standing on a street corner for a taxi, sitting in a doctor's office, or watching a loading bar on a computer screen, you are engaged in the act of waiting. This word functions as a noun (the act itself), an adjective (describing something intended for use while one waits), and the present participle of the verb 'wait'.

The Physical Act: Physically, waiting often involves stillness. It is the body in a state of suspension, often in public spaces designed specifically for this purpose, such as bus stops or airport terminals. The physical posture of waiting can range from the alert stance of someone expecting a friend to the slumped fatigue of a traveler whose flight has been delayed for hours.

The long waiting period for the new passport caused a lot of stress for the family before their vacation.

The Psychological State: Psychologically, waiting is a complex state of anticipation. It can be filled with hope, such as waiting for a loved one's return, or filled with dread, such as waiting for medical test results. The perception of time often changes during these periods; a minute spent waiting in a queue can feel significantly longer than a minute spent in active conversation.

In social contexts, waiting is governed by cultural norms. The concept of 'queuing' or 'lining up' is a structured form of waiting that reflects a society's views on fairness and order. In some cultures, waiting is seen as a sign of respect, while in others, it is an inconvenience to be minimized at all costs. The digital age has introduced 'virtual waiting,' where we wait for downloads, responses to messages, or for a webpage to load. Even though we are not physically standing in a line, the psychological experience of delay remains the same. The word is also used in professional contexts, such as 'waiting tables,' which refers to the service provided in a restaurant, highlighting that waiting can also involve active service and readiness to assist others.

She spent the afternoon waiting for the delivery truck to arrive with her new furniture.

Linguistic Nuance: As a gerund, 'waiting' can act as the subject of a sentence, such as 'Waiting is the hardest part.' As an adjective, it modifies nouns to indicate purpose, like 'waiting room' or 'waiting list.' This versatility makes it a cornerstone of English vocabulary, applicable to nearly every facet of human interaction and temporal experience.

The waiting list for the prestigious school is over two years long.

After waiting in line for three hours, they finally got tickets to the concert.

The doctor is waiting to see the next patient in the examination room.

Using the word waiting correctly requires an understanding of its different grammatical roles. Most commonly, it appears as the present participle of the verb 'wait,' used in continuous tenses to describe an ongoing action. For example, 'I am waiting' indicates that the act of staying in place is happening right now. It is crucial to remember that in English, we usually wait *for* something or someone. Omitting the 'for' is a common error for non-native speakers. You don't 'wait the bus'; you 'wait for the bus.' However, if you are waiting to perform an action, you use the infinitive: 'I am waiting to eat.' This distinction between waiting for a noun and waiting to do a verb is fundamental to clear communication.

Continuous Tenses: 'They have been waiting for hours.' This use of the present perfect continuous emphasizes the duration of the wait, often implying a sense of exhaustion or impatience. 'She was waiting at the station when it started to rain' uses the past continuous to set the scene for another event.

The children are waiting patiently for their turn on the playground slide.

As a Noun (Gerund): When 'waiting' is used as a noun, it often describes the experience itself. 'The waiting was unbearable' treats the period of time as a singular entity. This is common in literature and formal writing to discuss the concept of delay or anticipation as a theme.

Another important use is as an adjective. Phrases like 'waiting room,' 'waiting list,' and 'waiting period' are compound nouns where 'waiting' describes the purpose of the following noun. A 'waiting room' is a room specifically for people who are waiting. A 'waiting list' is a list of people who must wait for a service or product. In these cases, 'waiting' is static and descriptive. Furthermore, 'waiting' can be used in participle phrases to provide additional information about the subject of a sentence: 'Waiting by the door, John realized he had forgotten his keys.' Here, the act of waiting is happening simultaneously with the realization.

The waiting area was crowded with people holding luggage and tickets.

Professional Usage: In the hospitality industry, 'waiting' is a professional verb. 'He is waiting tables at the local bistro' means he is working as a server. This is a specific, idiomatic use that differs from the general meaning of delaying action.

I am waiting to hear back from the hiring manager about the job.

There is a thirty-minute waiting time for a table at the restaurant tonight.

The dog sat waiting by the window for its owner to return home.

You will encounter the word waiting in a vast array of real-world environments, from the mundane to the high-stakes. In public transportation hubs like train stations and airports, 'waiting' is the primary activity. Announcements often include the word: 'Thank you for your patience while waiting for the delayed 10:15 service.' In these settings, waiting is a collective experience, shared by hundreds of strangers all bound by the same schedule. Similarly, in healthcare, the 'waiting room' is a universal concept. It is a place of transition where patients sit before being seen by a professional. In these contexts, the word is often associated with anxiety or the quiet passage of time.

In Customer Service: If you call a large company, you might hear a recorded voice say, 'All of our agents are currently busy. Thank you for waiting.' Here, waiting is a digital queue. The word is used to acknowledge the customer's time and attempt to mitigate the frustration of the delay.

'Please remain on the line; your waiting time is approximately five minutes.'

In Popular Culture: The word is a staple in music and film. Famous songs like Tom Petty's 'The Waiting' ('The waiting is the hardest part') or movies like 'Waiting for Godot' (based on the play) explore the existential and emotional depths of the act. It is often used to symbolize longing, frustration, or the static nature of a character's life.

In the workplace, 'waiting' often refers to dependencies. A project manager might say, 'We are waiting for approval from the legal department.' This indicates a bottleneck in a process. In sports, commentators might talk about a player 'waiting for the right opening' or 'waiting for the pitch.' Here, waiting is a strategic, active choice—a moment of calculated stillness before a decisive action. Even in technology, your computer 'waits' for input. The 'waiting' cursor (like the spinning wheel or hourglass) is a visual representation of the system being busy. In every one of these instances, the word 'waiting' communicates a state of readiness for what comes next.

The crowd was waiting in the rain for the gates of the stadium to open.

In Literature: Authors use 'waiting' to build suspense. A character waiting in a dark hallway creates tension. The word serves as a narrative tool to slow down the pace and focus the reader's attention on the character's internal state during a period of inaction.

He found himself waiting for a sign that he was making the right decision.

The waiting game in politics requires a great deal of patience and timing.

They were waiting for the sun to set so they could start the fireworks display.

Despite its simplicity, the word waiting is frequently misused, particularly by those learning English as a second language. The most prevalent error involves the use of prepositions. In English, the verb 'wait' is intransitive when it means to stay in place, meaning it cannot take a direct object. You must use 'for' to connect the action to the thing being waited for. Saying 'I am waiting the bus' is incorrect; the correct form is 'I am waiting *for* the bus.' This is a 'transfer error' from languages like Spanish ('esperar') or French ('attendre'), where the verb can take a direct object without a preposition.

Wait vs. Await: A very common high-level mistake is confusing 'waiting for' with 'awaiting.' 'Await' is a transitive verb and does NOT use 'for.' You can say 'I am waiting for your reply' or 'I am awaiting your reply,' but 'I am awaiting for your reply' is grammatically incorrect. 'Await' is also much more formal and usually used with abstract nouns (results, news, arrival) rather than people.

Incorrect: I have been waiting you for twenty minutes. Correct: I have been waiting *for* you for twenty minutes.

Waiting vs. Expecting: Sometimes speakers use 'waiting' when they mean 'expecting.' Waiting is the physical act of staying in a place. Expecting is the mental state of believing something will happen. If you say 'I am waiting a baby,' it sounds like you are standing in a room waiting for a baby to be delivered to you. The correct phrase for pregnancy is 'I am expecting a baby.'

Another subtle mistake occurs with the phrase 'waiting on.' While common in casual American English to mean 'waiting for,' its primary and more formal meaning is to serve someone, as a waiter does. Using 'waiting on' in a formal British context to mean you are delayed might lead to slight confusion, as it implies you are acting as a servant to the person or thing. Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 'waiting' with 'hoping.' While you might be waiting for something you hope for, the words are not interchangeable. 'Waiting' is about time and presence; 'hoping' is about desire and possibility.

Incorrect: The waiting of the results was long. Correct: The wait for the results was long. (Use 'wait' as the noun for the period, or 'waiting' for the continuous act).

Gerund vs. Infinitive: After certain verbs, you might need to choose between 'waiting' and 'to wait.' For example, 'I can't stand waiting' (gerund) is correct, while 'I can't stand to wait' is also acceptable but less common in many dialects. However, 'I decided to wait' is correct, but 'I decided waiting' is not.

Incorrect: I am waiting for go. Correct: I am waiting to go.

Incorrect: She is waiting her friend. Correct: She is waiting for her friend.

Incorrect: I am awaiting for the train. Correct: I am waiting for the train OR I am awaiting the train.

While waiting is the most common and versatile term, English offers several synonyms that carry different nuances of meaning, register, and emotion. Choosing the right alternative can make your writing more precise and evocative. For instance, if the waiting is done with a sense of excitement or dread, 'anticipating' might be a better choice. If the waiting is done in a lazy or aimless way, 'lingering' or 'loitering' could be more appropriate. Understanding these distinctions is key to mastering the language.

Waiting vs. Anticipating: 'Waiting' is neutral; it just means staying until something happens. 'Anticipating' implies a mental preparation or an emotional reaction to what is coming. You wait for a bus, but you anticipate a celebration.

Instead of just waiting for the news, he was anxiously anticipating the results of the election.

Waiting vs. Lingering: 'Lingering' suggests staying longer than necessary or expected, often because one is reluctant to leave. While waiting has a purpose (the thing you are waiting for), lingering is often about the enjoyment of the current place or a hesitation to move on.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter 'tarrying,' which is an archaic way of saying waiting or staying. In legal or official documents, you might see 'pending,' which acts as an adjective or preposition meaning 'while waiting for.' For example, 'pending approval' means 'waiting for approval.' If someone is waiting in a way that seems suspicious, the word 'loitering' is often used, particularly by law enforcement. It implies standing around with no apparent purpose. Conversely, 'stalling' means waiting or delaying action on purpose to gain more time. Each of these words adds a layer of intent or context that 'waiting' lacks.

The suspect was seen waiting (loitering) near the entrance of the bank for several hours.

Waiting vs. Awaiting: As mentioned before, 'awaiting' is the formal cousin. It is used in business emails: 'We are awaiting your confirmation.' It sounds more professional than 'We are waiting for you to confirm.'

The soldiers were waiting (on standby), ready to move as soon as the order was given.

The waiting period (interim) between the two jobs allowed her to travel.

He was waiting (expecting) a call from his mother all evening.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'waiter' originally meant a watchman or an attendant. It wasn't until the late 15th century that it began to be used for someone who serves food at a table.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

US /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

The stress is on the first syllable: WAIT-ing.

Rime avec

rating dating stating hating mating grating skating plating

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'g' at the end too hard.
Using a short 'a' sound like in 'cat' instead of the long 'ai'.
Dropping the 'i' and saying 'wat-ing'.
Over-emphasizing the 't' in casual American speech.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'wedding'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

The word is very common and easy to recognize in text.

Écriture 2/5

Requires correct use of prepositions like 'for' and 'to'.

Expression orale 1/5

Easy to pronounce, though the 't' can vary by dialect.

Écoute 1/5

Very distinct sound, though it can be confused with 'weighting'.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

wait for time stop stay

Apprends ensuite

expect anticipate delay patience queue

Avancé

liminality abeyance interim hiatus procrastination

Grammaire à connaître

Present Continuous Tense

I am waiting for the rain to stop.

Gerunds as Subjects

Waiting is a part of life.

Prepositional Verbs

You must wait *for* someone.

Participle Phrases

Waiting by the phone, she hoped he would call.

Infinitive of Purpose

I am waiting *to see* the manager.

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Exemples par niveau

I am waiting for the bus.

Je attends le bus.

Present continuous: Subject + am + waiting + for + object.

She is waiting for her friend.

Elle attend son ami.

Always use 'for' after 'waiting' when there is a person.

We are waiting for the rain to stop.

Nous attendons que la pluie s'arrête.

Waiting for + noun + to + verb.

The dog is waiting by the door.

Le chien attend près de la porte.

'By' indicates the location of the waiting.

Are you waiting for me?

Est-ce que tu m'attends ?

Question form: Are + subject + waiting + for + object?

They are waiting in line.

Ils attendent dans la file.

'In line' is a common phrase for queuing.

I am waiting to see the doctor.

J'attends de voir le médecin.

Waiting + to + infinitive verb.

Please wait here. I am waiting for you.

S'il vous plaît, attendez ici. Je vous attends.

Imperative 'wait' followed by continuous 'waiting'.

I was waiting for the train when I saw him.

J'attendais le train quand je l'ai vu.

Past continuous used to describe an action in progress.

The waiting room was very cold.

La salle d'attente était très froide.

'Waiting' acts as an adjective modifying 'room'.

How long have you been waiting?

Depuis combien de temps attends-tu ?

Present perfect continuous for duration.

I am on the waiting list for a new car.

Je suis sur la liste d'attente pour une nouvelle voiture.

'Waiting list' is a common compound noun.

She hates waiting for the elevator.

Elle déteste attendre l'ascenseur.

Gerund 'waiting' after the verb 'hates'.

We spent the whole morning waiting.

Nous avons passé toute la matinée à attendre.

'Waiting' as a gerund after 'spent time'.

The waiting time is about ten minutes.

Le temps d'attente est d'environ dix minutes.

'Waiting time' is another common compound noun.

I'm waiting for the right time to call.

J'attends le bon moment pour appeler.

Waiting for + noun + to + verb.

Waiting for the results made her feel anxious.

Attendre les résultats la rendait anxieuse.

Gerund phrase 'Waiting for the results' as the subject.

He has been waiting tables since he was eighteen.

Il sert des tables depuis qu'il a dix-sept ans.

Idiomatic use: 'waiting tables' means working as a server.

I'm tired of waiting for things to change.

J'en ai marre d'attendre que les choses changent.

Preposition 'of' followed by the gerund 'waiting'.

The waiting period for a visa can be quite long.

Le délai d'attente pour un visa peut être assez long.

'Waiting period' refers to a specific duration of time.

Keep them waiting for a few minutes.

Fais-les attendre quelques minutes.

Structure: Keep + object + waiting.

Waiting in the rain, he realized he was late.

En attendant sous la pluie, il a réalisé qu'il était en retard.

Participle phrase used as an adverbial clause.

Is there a waiting area for families?

Y a-t-il une zone d'attente pour les familles ?

'Waiting area' is a more formal version of 'waiting room'.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Nous devrons simplement attendre et voir.

Common idiom meaning to be patient for an outcome.

The government is under fire for long hospital waiting lists.

Le gouvernement est critiqué pour les longues listes d'attente dans les hôpitaux.

Compound noun used in a political/social context.

I'm currently waiting on a response from the legal team.

J'attends actuellement une réponse de l'équipe juridique.

Casual/Business usage of 'waiting on' meaning 'waiting for'.

Waiting for the market to stabilize is a risky strategy.

Attendre que le marché se stabilise est une stratégie risquée.

Gerund phrase as a subject in a complex sentence.

She was left waiting at the altar.

Elle a été abandonnée devant l'autel.

Idiomatic expression for being abandoned before a wedding.

The waiting game requires nerves of steel.

Le jeu de l'attente nécessite des nerfs d'acier.

Idiom 'waiting game' refers to a strategy of delay.

I spent the afternoon waiting around for nothing.

J'ai passé l'après-midi à attendre pour rien.

Phrasal verb 'waiting around' implies aimlessness.

There is a waiting period of 30 days before the policy starts.

Il y a un délai de carence de 30 jours avant le début du contrat.

Formal use of 'waiting period' in insurance/law.

He was tired of waiting for his big break.

Il en avait assez d'attendre sa grande chance.

Idiomatic 'big break' used with 'waiting for'.

The existential dread of waiting for an unknown fate is a common theme.

L'angoisse existentielle d'attendre un destin inconnu est un thème commun.

Abstract use of 'waiting' in a philosophical context.

The project is pending, waiting for final executive sign-off.

Le projet est en suspens, en attente de la validation finale de la direction.

Using 'waiting' to clarify the meaning of 'pending'.

Waiting in the wings, the vice president was ready to take over.

Prêt à intervenir, le vice-président était prêt à prendre la relève.

Idiom 'waiting in the wings' meaning ready to act.

The sheer monotony of waiting can be psychologically damaging.

La simple monotonie de l'attente peut être psychologiquement dommageable.

Gerund 'waiting' used as the object of a preposition.

He was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Il attendait son heure, guettant le moment idéal pour frapper.

Combining 'biding his time' with 'waiting' for emphasis.

The waiting room was a microcosm of the city's diverse population.

La salle d'attente était un microcosme de la population diversifiée de la ville.

Metaphorical use of 'waiting room'.

Waiting for Godot is a play that explores the meaninglessness of time.

En attendant Godot est une pièce qui explore l'insignifiance du temps.

Proper noun usage (title of a famous play).

The company is waiting out the economic recession.

L'entreprise attend que la récession économique passe.

Phrasal verb 'wait out' means to wait until something ends.

The poem captures the liminality of waiting in a train station at midnight.

Le poème capture le caractère liminaire de l'attente dans une gare à minuit.

High-level vocabulary ('liminality') used with 'waiting'.

Waiting, in its purest form, is a confrontation with the self.

L'attente, dans sa forme la plus pure, est une confrontation avec soi-même.

Philosophical subject-verb structure.

The strategic waiting employed by the general eventually won the war.

L'attente stratégique employée par le général a finalement permis de gagner la guerre.

'Waiting' as a gerund modified by an adjective.

The bureaucracy is a labyrinth of waiting and red tape.

La bureaucratie est un labyrinthe d'attente et de paperasserie.

Metaphorical use in a critique of systems.

He found a strange solace in the quiet waiting of the forest.

Il trouva un étrange réconfort dans l'attente silencieuse de la forêt.

Personification/Atmospheric use of 'waiting'.

The waiting period serves as a crucial buffer for emotional processing.

Le délai d'attente sert de tampon crucial pour le traitement émotionnel.

Technical/Psychological application of the term.

Her life was a series of waiting rooms, each more sterile than the last.

Sa vie était une série de salles d'attente, chacune plus stérile que la précédente.

Literary metaphor using 'waiting rooms'.

To master the art of waiting is to master the art of living.

Maîtriser l'art de l'attente, c'est maîtriser l'art de vivre.

Aphoristic use of the gerund.

Collocations courantes

waiting room

waiting list

waiting time

waiting period

waiting area

waiting game

waiting tables

long waiting

patiently waiting

anxiously waiting

Phrases Courantes

Waiting for you

— The act of staying in place because you expect someone to arrive. It is a very common way to greet someone who is late.

I've been waiting for you since six o'clock!

Waiting to hear

— Expecting a message, call, or news from someone. It implies a state of uncertainty.

I'm still waiting to hear if I got the job.

Waiting in line

— Standing in a queue to buy something or enter a place. It is a standard part of public life.

We spent two hours waiting in line for the new movie.

Waiting around

— Staying in a place with nothing to do, often feeling that your time is being wasted.

I don't like just waiting around; let's go do something.

Worth the waiting

— Used to say that the final result was so good that the delay didn't matter.

The view from the top was definitely worth the waiting.

Tired of waiting

— Feeling frustrated or impatient because a delay has lasted too long.

I'm tired of waiting for him to make a decision.

Waiting for a sign

— Looking for a reason or a signal to take a specific action. Often used metaphorically.

He felt like he was just waiting for a sign to quit his job.

Waiting for the bus

— The most literal and common use of the word in daily transportation.

Are you waiting for the bus or the tram?

Waiting for the weekend

— A common expression of longing for the end of the work week.

Everyone in the office is just waiting for the weekend.

Waiting on a friend

— Informal way to say you are expecting a friend to arrive or finish something.

I'm just waiting on a friend before we go to the party.

Souvent confondu avec

waiting vs weighting

This is a homophone (sounds the same) but means giving something more importance or weight. 'The weighting of the grades was unfair.'

waiting vs expecting

Expecting is a mental state; waiting is a physical or temporal act. You expect a result, but you wait for it to arrive.

waiting vs awaiting

Awaiting is formal and doesn't use 'for'. 'I am awaiting your reply' vs 'I am waiting for your reply'.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Wait and see"

— To be patient and find out what happens before taking action. It suggests that the outcome is currently unknown.

We don't know if the plan will work yet; we'll just have to wait and see.

neutral

"Waiting for the other shoe to drop"

— To expect something bad to happen because something else has already occurred. It describes a state of tense anticipation.

Things are going too well; I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

informal

"Waiting in the wings"

— To be ready to take over a role or a job as soon as there is an opportunity. Originally from the theater.

There are several younger politicians waiting in the wings to lead the party.

neutral

"The waiting game"

— A situation where you delay taking action so that you can see what others do or wait for a better opportunity.

In negotiations, it's often a waiting game to see who will make the first offer.

neutral

"Wait for the dust to settle"

— To wait until a situation becomes calm or clear after a period of excitement or confusion.

Let's wait for the dust to settle after the merger before we make any big changes.

neutral

"Waiting for Godot"

— A reference to the play by Samuel Beckett, meaning to wait for something that is never going to happen.

Trying to get a straight answer from him is like waiting for Godot.

literary/intellectual

"Wait on hand and foot"

— To do everything for someone, often to an excessive or annoying degree.

She expects her husband to wait on her hand and foot.

informal

"Wait out the storm"

— To stay in a safe place until a difficult or dangerous situation has passed.

We decided to stay in the cabin and wait out the storm.

neutral

"Wait a minute"

— Used to tell someone to stop or slow down, or to express sudden realization or disagreement.

Wait a minute, that's not what we agreed on!

informal

"An accident waiting to happen"

— A very dangerous situation that is likely to result in a disaster soon.

That old bridge is an accident waiting to happen.

neutral

Facile à confondre

waiting vs Wait

Base form vs participle.

Wait is the verb; waiting is the continuous action or the noun form. You can say 'Please wait' or 'I am waiting'.

Wait here while I am waiting for the car.

waiting vs Stay

Both involve not moving.

Stay means to remain in a place; waiting means staying specifically until something happens. You stay at a hotel, but you wait for a friend.

I will stay here and keep waiting for you.

waiting vs Expect

Similar mental state.

Expect is about what you think will happen; waiting is about the time you spend before it happens.

I expect him to be late, so I am waiting patiently.

waiting vs Delay

Both involve time passing.

A delay is the cause of the wait; waiting is what you do because of the delay.

The delay caused a long waiting period at the airport.

waiting vs Queue

Both involve waiting in line.

Queue is the noun for the line itself; waiting is the action you perform while in the queue.

We joined the queue and began waiting for our tickets.

Structures de phrases

I am waiting for [noun].

I am waiting for the bus.

I was waiting when [past event].

I was waiting when it started to snow.

I have been waiting for [duration].

I have been waiting for two hours.

[Gerund phrase] is [adjective].

Waiting for the results is stressful.

Waiting [prepositional phrase], [subject] [verb].

Waiting in the shadows, the cat watched the mouse.

The [adjective] waiting [verb] [complement].

The strategic waiting proved to be the correct choice.

All

Stop waiting for [noun].

Stop waiting for a miracle.

All

Keep [object] waiting.

Don't keep me waiting.

Famille de mots

Noms

wait (the act or period)

waiter (person who serves)

waitress (female server)

waiting (the act/experience)

Verbes

wait (base form)

waited (past tense)

waits (third person singular)

Adjectifs

waiting (e.g., waiting room)

awaited (e.g., long-awaited)

Apparenté

await

waitlist

waitstaff

wait-and-see

weight (homophone)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely high in both spoken and written English.

Erreurs courantes

I am waiting my friend. → I am waiting for my friend.
The verb 'wait' is intransitive and requires the preposition 'for' to connect to an object.
I am awaiting for the results. → I am awaiting the results.
'Await' is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'for'.
I am waiting a baby. → I am expecting a baby.
'Waiting' implies staying in a place for someone to arrive; 'expecting' is the correct term for pregnancy.
The waiting of the bus was long. → The wait for the bus was long.
While 'waiting' is a gerund, 'wait' is the more common noun for a specific period of delay.
I am waiting to the train. → I am waiting for the train.
Use 'for' with nouns; use 'to' only with verbs (e.g., waiting to go).

Astuces

Use 'for' with people

Always remember to use 'for' when you are waiting for a person. 'I am waiting for Sarah' is correct; 'I am waiting Sarah' is not.

Waiting vs. Awaiting

Use 'waiting for' in 99% of situations. Only use 'awaiting' in very formal emails or documents, and never put 'for' after it.

The American 'D' sound

If you want to sound more like an American, pronounce the 't' in 'waiting' like a soft 'd'. It sounds more natural in casual speech.

Gerund subjects

Start a sentence with 'Waiting' to emphasize the experience. 'Waiting for the bus in the rain is not fun' is a great sentence structure.

Waiting on

Be careful with 'waiting on'. In the UK, it almost always means serving food. In the US, it can mean 'waiting for', but 'waiting for' is always safer.

Common pairs

Learn 'waiting room' and 'waiting list' as single units of meaning. They are used very frequently in daily life.

Wait and see

Use the phrase 'wait and see' when you don't want to make a decision yet or when the future is uncertain.

Announcements

In airports or train stations, listen for 'waiting for' followed by a flight or train number to know when your transport is delayed.

Active waiting

Waiting doesn't have to be passive. You can be 'waiting for an opportunity', which implies you are ready to act when it appears.

No double 't'

Even though the 't' sound is strong, 'waiting' only has one 't'. Don't confuse it with words like 'getting' or 'sitting'.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'WAIT' as 'Watching And Idling Time'. When you are waiting, you are watching for something to happen while you are idle (not busy).

Association visuelle

Imagine a person standing at a bus stop under a large clock. The clock hands are moving slowly, and the person is looking down the road. This is the classic image of waiting.

Word Web

patience time queue delay anticipation bus stop doctor loading

Défi

Try to use 'waiting' in three different ways today: as a verb (I am waiting), as a noun (The waiting is long), and as an adjective (I am in the waiting room).

Origine du mot

The word 'waiting' comes from the Old Northern French word 'waitier', which meant 'to watch' or 'to lie in wait for'. This itself came from a Germanic source, related to the word 'wake'.

Sens originel : Originally, it meant to be on the lookout or to keep watch, like a guard.

Germanic via Old French.

Contexte culturel

Be aware that 'waiting on' can sound like you are treating someone as a servant in some cultures. Use 'waiting for' to be safe.

In the US and UK, 'waiting in line' vs 'queuing' is a major dialect difference. Both involve the same act of waiting.

Waiting for Godot (Samuel Beckett) The Waiting (Tom Petty song) Waiting on the World to Change (John Mayer song)

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Transportation

waiting for the train
waiting at the gate
waiting for a taxi
waiting for the light to change

Healthcare

sitting in the waiting room
waiting for the doctor
waiting for test results
on the waiting list for surgery

Restaurants

waiting for a table
waiting for the bill
waiting tables
waiting for the food

Work/Office

waiting for approval
waiting for a reply
waiting for the meeting to start
waiting on a deadline

Digital/Tech

waiting for the page to load
waiting for a download
waiting for a software update
waiting for a connection

Amorces de conversation

"How long have you been waiting here?"

"What is the longest you have ever spent waiting in a line?"

"Do you find waiting for things difficult or are you patient?"

"What do you usually do to pass the time while waiting?"

"Are you waiting for anything exciting to happen this month?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe a time when you were waiting for something very important. How did you feel?

Write about the atmosphere of a hospital waiting room. What do you see and hear?

Is waiting a waste of time, or can it be productive? Explain your thoughts.

Imagine you are waiting for a train that never arrives. What do you do?

Reflect on the phrase 'The waiting is the hardest part.' Do you agree?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It can be both. In 'I am waiting,' it is the present participle of the verb 'wait.' In 'The waiting was long,' it is a gerund, which functions as a noun.

In most cases, 'waiting for' is the correct and most natural choice. 'Waiting on' is informal in American English or means serving someone in a restaurant.

No, this is incorrect. You must say 'I am waiting *for* you.' The verb 'wait' needs a preposition to connect to a person.

A waiting list is a list of people who want something that is not currently available, such as a seat in a class or a new product. They must wait their turn.

'Waiting' is common and uses 'for' (waiting for news). 'Awaiting' is formal and does not use 'for' (awaiting news).

Yes, it can be an adjective when it describes a noun, such as in 'waiting room' or 'waiting area'.

It is spelled W-A-I-T-I-N-G. You simply add 'ing' to the base verb 'wait'.

It is an idiomatic expression that means working as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant, serving food and drinks to customers.

A waiting period is a specific amount of time that must pass before something can happen, often used in legal or insurance contexts.

In this context, 'waiting' refers to a vehicle staying in a place for a short time. 'No waiting' means you cannot stop or park your car there.

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