English → Chinese
wait
/BrE weɪt 
, AmE weɪt /
A intransitive verb
1 (stand by) 等候;
I don't mind waiting 我不在乎等;
‘keys cut, while you wait’ “配钥匙立等可取”;
to wait for sb/sth; 等某人／某事物;
wait for me! 等等我！;
to wait (for sb) to do sth; 等待（某人）做某事;
wait until or till … 等到…吧 [用于兴奋地表示或展示某物];
wait till you see what I've found! 你等着看我找到了什么吧！;
to keep sb waiting 让某人等着;
wait a minute or moment or second! (asking for delay) 稍等片刻！; (when interrupting) 等一等！; (expressing realization) 慢点！;
I can hardly or can't wait 我迫不及待;
wait and see! 等着看吧！;
what are we/you waiting for? 我们／你们还在等什么？;
(just) you wait! (making threat) 你等着瞧！; (making prediction) 你就等着看吧！;
wait for it! (mainly British) (introducing surprise) 听好了！; (ordering delay) 等候通知！; Military 听命令！;
to be sth waiting to happen 是早晚会发生的事;
everything comes or all good things come to those who wait proverb 耐心等候的人交好运
2 (look forward, anticipate) 盼望;
to wait for sth; 期待某事;
to wait (for sb) to do sth; 期待（某人）做某事
3 (be ready) 就绪;
there’s a letter waiting for you at home 家里有你一封信;
the hotel had a taxi waiting to collect us 旅馆叫了辆出租车等着接我们
4 (be left until later) 延缓;
he can wait: I'm busy right now 他得等等，我眼下很忙;
this is important: it can't wait 这很重要，刻不容缓
5 to wait at table formal (act as waiter) 侍候进餐
B transitive verb
1 (watch for) 等待 ‹chance›;
he waited his opportunity to sneak away 他等待机会想溜走
2 (stand in line for) 等候;
you'll just have to wait your turn 你得等着轮到你
3 (mainly US) informal (delay) 推迟 ‹meal›;
don't wait dinner for me 吃晚饭不要等我
4 (mainly US) (serve at)
to wait tables 做餐厅服务员
C noun
等待;
you'll have a long wait ironic 你就好好等着吧;
to be worth the wait 值得等待;
to lie in wait (for sb/sth) «hunter, animal» 伏击（某人／某物）;
the bandits were lying in wait just outside the village 强盗就埋伏在村子外面
Phrasal verbs
● wait around, wait about
intransitive verb
空等;
to wait around for sb (to do sth); 干等着某人（做某事）
● wait behind
intransitive verb
(mainly British) [尤指为了私下交谈] 待他人走后留下来;
to wait behind after class/a meeting; 在下课／会议之后留下来
● wait in
intransitive verb
British
to wait in (for sb/sth); 在家里等候（某人／某物）
● wait on:
transitive verb
1 [wait on sb/sth] (await) 等待;
she is waiting on the result of a blood test 她在等验血结果
2 [wait on sb] (serve) 为…服务; (act as attendant to) «servant» 服侍;
to wait on sb hand and foot derogatory 无微不至地服侍某人
● wait out
transitive verb
[wait sth out, wait out sth] 等待…结束 ‹storm, crisis›
● wait up
intransitive verb
1 (stay up)
to wait up (for sb); 熬夜等待（某人）
2 (mainly US) (stop, pause) 等一等