wait

IPA/weɪt/
KK[wˈet]IPA/weɪt/

wait — 動詞

  • waitpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • waitshe / she / it
  • waitedpast simple
  • waiting-ing form

1. to remain in one place or pause what you are doing, expecting a person to appear

1.動詞不及物A1
釋義

等待

停留原地直到某事發生

to remain in one place or pause what you are doing, expecting a person to appear, an event to happen, or the right moment to come

例句

Pim waited for the school bus at the corner for twenty minutes.

Pim 在街角等校車等了二十分鐘。

wait for + noun phrase indicating object waited for

The doctor asked Elena to wait in the examination room.

醫生請 Elena 在檢查室等候。

常見搭配
  • wait for
  • wait until
  • wait in line
  • wait a minute
  • keep someone waiting
同義詞
  • hold on

    more informal; usually used for short pauses

  • stay put

    emphasises not moving from a location

  • await

    more formal; can take a direct object without 'for'

反義詞
  • leave

    to go away from a place rather than staying

  • go ahead

    to proceed without delay

文法句型

wait for + noun/pronoun

wait + to-infinitive

wait + adverb/prepositional phrase

用法筆記

The person or thing being waited for is introduced by the preposition 'for' — never used as a direct object.

常見錯誤

I waited him at the station.
I waited for him at the station.
The object of waiting always needs the preposition 'for'.
She is waiting the bus.
She is waiting for the bus.
Same rule applies to things, not just people.

2. to be postponed or set aside because the matter is not urgent enough to demand a

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

延緩

把非緊急的事留到以後做

to be postponed or set aside because the matter is not urgent enough to demand attention now

例句

The repair work on the roof can wait until next spring.

屋頂的修繕工作可以等到明年春天再處理。

can wait + until + time phrase to indicate postponement

Amani decided that her travel plans would have to wait until she finished school.

Amani 決定她的旅行計畫得等到畢業以後再說。

常見搭配
  • can wait
  • can't wait
  • will have to wait
  • wait until later
同義詞
  • hold

    informal; 'hold the report' means delay it

  • postpone

    more formal; implies a new later time has been set

  • defer

    very formal; used in business and legal contexts

反義詞
  • hurry

    to act or move quickly

  • rush

    to do something immediately or faster than usual

文法句型

subject + can/can't wait

subject + wait until + time

用法筆記

Often used with 'can', 'can't', or 'will have to' to express whether something is urgent or not. The subject is usually a task, event, or decision — not a person.

常見錯誤

The meeting waits until Friday.
The meeting can wait until Friday.
This sense requires a modal verb ('can', 'must', 'will have to').
I will wait the dishes.
I will do the dishes later.' / 'The dishes can wait.
In this sense, 'wait' does not take a direct object.

3. used on official road signs to tell drivers that stopping a vehicle is not allow

3.動詞不及物B1
釋義

禁止停車

交通標誌表示車輛不得停放

used on official road signs to tell drivers that stopping a vehicle is not allowed, even for a short time

例句

A red sign at the entrance said "No Waiting" in bold white letters.

入口處的紅色標誌上用白色粗體字寫著「禁止等候」。

'No Waiting' as a fixed sign phrase

The police officer gave Takeshi a ticket for parking where waiting was not allowed.

員警開了一張罰單給 Takeshi，因為他把車停在禁止等候的路段。

常見搭配
  • No Waiting sign
  • No Waiting zone
同義詞
  • no parking

    more widely understood; used in everyday language and American signs

文法句型

No Waiting (on traffic signs)

用法筆記

This sense appears only on official traffic signs. In everyday speech, people say 'no parking' instead. In American English, 'No Standing' or 'No Stopping' is used on signs for the same restriction.

4. to perform the work of serving meals and taking orders from seated customers in

4.動詞及物B1
釋義

服務

在餐廳為顧客送餐的服務工作

to perform the work of serving meals and taking orders from seated customers in a dining establishment

例句

Hugo waited tables at a busy Italian restaurant during his college years.

Hugo 大學期間在一家熱鬧的義大利餐廳當服務生。

idiomatic phrase 'wait tables' meaning work as a server

Heather has been waiting on customers at the cafe since last summer.

Heather 從去年夏天開始在那家咖啡館服務客人。

wait on + person being served

常見搭配
  • wait tables
  • wait on someone
  • wait at table
同義詞
  • serve

    broader meaning; can apply to any service role

  • work as a server

    gender-neutral and common in modern use

反義詞
  • dine

    to eat as a customer rather than serve food

文法句型

wait + tables/on + noun

wait + on + people

用法筆記

In American English, 'wait tables' is the most common expression. In British English, 'wait at table' is also used. The person who does this job is called a waiter (male) or waitress (female); 'server' is a gender-neutral alternative.

常見錯誤

She is waiting the tables.
She waits tables at a downtown restaurant.
The verb 'wait' in this sense is not used with the progressive 'is waiting' for a permanent job; more naturally 'waits tables'.
片語動詞

wait about

phrasal verb

To stay in a place without doing anything while expecting something to happen.

空等

We waited about for an hour, but the bus never came.

Don't just wait about; do something useful.

wait around

phrasal verb

To stay in a place doing nothing while waiting for something to happen.

乾等

I don't want to wait around all day for a delivery.

They waited around for the manager to arrive.

wait behind

phrasal verb

To stay in a place after others have left.

留下來

The teacher asked a few students to wait behind after class.

She waited behind to talk to the speaker.

wait in

phrasal verb

To stay at home because you are expecting someone or something.

在家等候

I have to wait in for the repairman.

She waited in all morning for the package.

wait on

phrasal verb

To serve food or drinks to someone, especially in a restaurant.

服務（用餐）

The waiter waited on our table all evening.

She waited on customers at the café.

wait out

phrasal verb

To delay doing something until a particular period or event ends.

等到…結束

They waited out the storm in a shelter.

We decided to wait out the traffic jam.

wait up

phrasal verb

To stay awake because you are waiting for someone to return.

熬夜等門

Don't wait up for me; I'll be home late.

She waited up until her son came home.

慣用語

can't wait

idiom

to feel very excited or eager about something that is going to happen soon

迫不及待

Min can't wait to open her birthday presents tomorrow morning.

The children couldn't wait for the summer holiday to begin.

wait and see

idiom

to be patient and find out what happens in the future rather than acting or guessing now

等著瞧；靜觀其變

We will just have to wait and see whether the train arrives on time.

Instead of worrying about the test results, try to wait and see.

what are you waiting for?

idiom

used to tell someone to start doing something immediately without further delay

你還等什麼？

There are still tickets left for the concert so what are you waiting for?

If you want to apply for that job, what are you waiting for? Send in your resume today.

an accident/a disaster waiting to happen

idiom

Something or someone that is very likely to cause a problem or danger in the future.

遲早會發生的災難

That old bridge is an accident waiting to happen.

With his careless driving, he's a disaster waiting to happen.

(waiting) in the wings

idiom

Ready to take over a job or be used when needed.

隨時準備接手

Several young actors are waiting in the wings for their big break.

A new manager is waiting in the wings to replace the current one.

I, they, etc. can’t wait/can hardly wait

idiom

Used to emphasize that someone is very excited about something or eager to do it.

迫不及待

The children can't wait for the school trip.

I can hardly wait to see the new movie.

keep somebody waiting

idiom

To make someone wait, especially by arriving late.

讓某人久等

I'm sorry to keep you waiting for so long.

The doctor kept the patient waiting for an hour.

wait at table

idiom

To serve food to people, especially at a formal meal.

侍候用餐

She worked as a waitress and waited at table during dinner.

The butler waited at table for the guests.

wait for it

idiom

Used to say that you are about to tell something surprising.

聽好了（引出驚人消息）

He won the lottery—wait for it—twice in one year!

And then, wait for it, she said she was moving to Mars.

wait a minute/moment/second

idiom

To wait for a short time, often used to interrupt or ask for a pause.

等一下

Wait a minute, I need to grab my keys.

Can you wait a second while I check the time?

wait on somebody hand and foot

idiom

To take care of someone's every need so they don't have to do anything themselves.

無微不至地伺候

She waits on her husband hand and foot.

The hotel staff waited on the guests hand and foot.

wait tables

idiom

To work as a server in a restaurant, bringing food and drinks to customers.

當服務生

She waited tables to pay for college.

He has been waiting tables at the diner for two years.

wait till/until…

idiom

Used to show excitement about telling or showing something to someone.

等到…的時候（表示興奮）

Wait till you see the surprise I have for you!

Wait until you taste this cake—it's amazing.

what are we waiting for?

idiom

Used to suggest that everyone should start doing what was discussed.

我們還在等什麼？

The tickets are bought—what are we waiting for?

We have all the supplies, so what are we waiting for?

(just) you wait

idiom

Used to emphasize a threat, warning, or promise.

你等著瞧

Just you wait until your father gets home!

I'll win the race, just you wait.

wait — 名詞

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

副詞搭配

常用片語

介系詞搭配