/weɪt ||; wet/verb[I] 1 wait (for sb/sth) (to do sth) to stay in a particular place, and not do anything until sb/sth arrives or until sth happens 等；等候；等待: Wait here. I'll be back in a few minutes. 在这里等一等，我马上就回来。Have you been waiting long? 你等了很久了吗？If I'm a bit late, can you wait for me? 如果我稍为晚了一点，你能等我吗？I'm waiting to see the doctor. 我正等着看医生。
Compare wait and expect I was expecting him to be there at 7.30 but at 8 I was still waiting. I'm waiting for the exam results but I'm not expecting to pass. If you wait, you stay in one place and pass the time doing nothing, until sth happens or sb arrives I waited outside the theatre until they arrived. If you expect sth, you think or believe that sth will very probably happen and you spend your time doing other things before it happens I'm expecting you to get a good grade in your exam. 比较wait及expect：I was expecting him to be there at 7.30 but at 8 I was still waiting.我预期他7时30分到那儿，但到了8时我还在等他。·I'm waiting for the exam results but I'm not expecting to pass.我在等候考试结果公布，但我料想不会及格。wait通常指呆在一地无所事事地消磨时间，直至某事发生或某人到达：I waited outside the theatre until they arrived.我一直在戏院外等候，直到他们来到。expect则用于表示认为或相信某事会发生，而在事情发生之前的这段时间里做着别的事情：I'm expecting you to get a good grade in your exam.我预期这次考试你会取得好成绩。 2 to be left or delayed until a later time 拖延；推迟: Is this matter urgent or can it wait ? 这件事必须立即处理还是可以延后办理？
can't wait/can hardly wait used when you are emphasizing that sb is very excited and enthusiastic about doing sth （用于强调某人迫不及待地想做某事）:
The kids can't wait to see their father again. 孩子们迫不及待要跟他们父亲再次见面。 keep sb waiting to make sb wait or be delayed, especially because you arrive late 使等候（尤指因为自己迟到）:
I'm sorry if I've kept you waiting. 让你久等了，我很抱歉。 wait and see used to tell sb to be patient and to wait to find out about sth later （用于叫某人耐心等待，静观其变）:
We'll just have to wait and see -- there's nothing more we can do. 我们只得静观其变─不然也没有别的办法。 wait your turn to wait until the time when you are allowed to do sth 等着轮到自己
wait behind to stay in a place after others have left it 待他人走后留下来:
She waited behind after class to speak to her teacher. 她下课后留下来，要和老师说话。 wait in to stay at home because you are expecting sb to come or sth to happen 在家等候（某人到来或某事发生）
wait on sb to serve food, drink etc to sb, usually in a restaurant 伺候某人进餐（通常在餐馆内）
wait up (for sb) to not go to bed because you are waiting for sb to come home 熬夜等候某人回家