await
verb
ə-ˈwāt 
awaited; awaiting; awaits
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
Tom Marvel3
obsolete : attend
Synonyms
- anticipate
- expect
- hope (for)
- watch (for)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Ralph Pierre was sentenced to 3 years in prison on June 28; Fasasi and Thomas await sentencing. Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2022 Packed into their crowded dorms with little to do except await test results, employees smoked, played video games, complained about their confinement while exchanging stories about colleagues cracking under pressure. Fortune, 27 May 2022 Seven members of the criminal enterprise have been sentenced and the remaining defendants await sentencing. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 20 Apr. 2022 Her vaccinated father almost died from COVID in November, and her 4-year-old and 1-year-old still await vaccine approval. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Jan. 2022 Singer, the test administrator and the proctor have all pleaded guilty to their roles and await sentencing. Fox News, 11 Dec. 2021 Sax said council will now await Sutton’s analysis and report on the survey results before taking any action. cleveland, 17 Aug. 2022 Spencer Cox and his predecessor, Gary Herbert, laud the new and improved lockup — and point to the development riches that await at the former Draper site. Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Australia’s chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, said Tuesday that Australia would await the real-world experience of the U.S. before committing to vaccinating younger children. Fox News, 13 Nov. 2021 See More
Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2022 Packed into their crowded dorms with little to do except await test results, employees smoked, played video games, complained about their confinement while exchanging stories about colleagues cracking under pressure. Fortune, 27 May 2022 Seven members of the criminal enterprise have been sentenced and the remaining defendants await sentencing. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 20 Apr. 2022 Her vaccinated father almost died from COVID in November, and her 4-year-old and 1-year-old still await vaccine approval. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Jan. 2022 Singer, the test administrator and the proctor have all pleaded guilty to their roles and await sentencing. Fox News, 11 Dec. 2021 Sax said council will now await Sutton’s analysis and report on the survey results before taking any action. cleveland, 17 Aug. 2022 Spencer Cox and his predecessor, Gary Herbert, laud the new and improved lockup — and point to the development riches that await at the former Draper site. Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Australia’s chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, said Tuesday that Australia would await the real-world experience of the U.S. before committing to vaccinating younger children. Fox News, 13 Nov. 2021 See More 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
Kids Definition
await
verb
ə-ˈwāt
awaited; awaiting
1
: to wait for
await a train
2
: to be ready or waiting for
Dinner was awaiting them on their arrival.
awaits
verb
1
as in expects
to believe in the future occurrence of (something) members of the sect are confidently awaiting the imminent end of the world Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- expects
- anticipates
- predicts
- foresees
- looks for
- envisions
- envisages
- looks forward to
- foretells
- hopes (for)
- contemplates
- watches (for)
- views
- presupposes
- presumes
- depends (on or upon)
- counts (on or upon)
- prophesies
- banks on
- assumes
- waits (for)
- relies (on or upon)
- eyes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- questions
- doubts
2
as in waits
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something crowds had been awaiting in the streets for hours Synonyms & Similar Words
- waits
- stays
- lingers
- remains
- bides
- sits tight
- holds on
- expects
- cools one's heels
- bides one's time
- hangs around
- sticks around
- holds one's breath
- anticipates
- tarries
- stands by
- watches (for)