'Wait for' is a commonly used phrasal verb that appears frequently in both informal and formal contexts, although it is more prevalent in casual conversation. It primarily expresses the action of staying in a place or state of anticipation until a specific event occurs or until someone or something arrives. In everyday scenarios, people use 'wait for' to denote anticipation for a bus, a person, a delivery, or an event, such as 'waiting for a friend' or 'waiting for the rain to stop.' In more formal contexts, it might appear in discussions about pending results, decisions, or scheduled plans, e.g., 'waiting for approval.' The structure remains relatively straightforward and is understood universally in English-speaking environments. It can take an object (e.g., wait for the signal), and sometimes it is used metaphorically to imply patience or expectation.
A2
Beginner
1. To stay in a place until someone or something arrives or is ready.
I will wait for the bus at the usual stop.
She waited for her friend to finish shopping before leaving the mall.
2. To postpone an action until a certain condition is met or until something happens.
We have to wait for the rain to stop before we can play outside.
He decided to wait for the right moment to propose.