await

UK: /əˈweɪt/ US: /əˈweɪt/ ,(ə wāt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•wait /əˈweɪt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to wait for;
   expect;
   look for:
   She was still awaiting an answer.
2. to be in store for;
   come soon after to (someone):
   A pleasant surprise awaited her.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•wait  (ə wāt′), v.t. 

1. to wait for;
   expect;
   look for:
   He is still awaiting an answer.
2. to be in store for;
   be imminent:
   A pleasant surprise awaits her in today's mail.
3. [Obs.] to lie in wait for.

v.i. 

4. to wait, as in expectation.

• Old North French awaitier, equivalent. to a- a-⁵ + waitier to wait
• Middle English awaiten 1200–50

a•wait′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See expect. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

await / əˈweɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to wait for; expect
2. (transitive) to be in store for
3. (intransitive) to wait, esp with expectation