Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

waiting

[ˈweɪ̯ɾɪŋ]

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.06 in modern English

Syllables
wait-ing
IPA
[ˈweɪ̯ɾɪŋ]
11
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

present participle and gerund of wait

noun

Watching, observation; keeping watch, guarding.

Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable

noun

The act of staying or remaining in expectation.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Attendance, service.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English waitinge, waytynge, waitende, weytende, waitand, waytand, equivalent to wait + -ing.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: [ˈweɪ̯ɾɪŋ]

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce waiting?
The recorded pronunciation is [ˈweɪ̯ɾɪŋ].
What does waiting mean?
present participle and gerund of wait
Where does waiting come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce waiting

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “waiting”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling ([ˈweɪ̯ɾɪŋ]) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “waiting”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “waiting” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.