Waitting vs. Waiting — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 20, 2024
"Waitting" is the incorrect spelling, while "Waiting" is correct, referring to the act of staying in place until a certain time or event.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Waitting or Waiting
How to spell Waiting?
Waitting
Incorrect Spelling
Waiting
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
English usually doesn't double the 't' in "-ing" forms after a short vowel.
Recall similar words like "dating" or "rating" where the 't' isn't doubled.
Think of "wait" as a base; you're simply adding "-ing" to it.
Use mnemonic: "While Awaiting, I'm Taking Time"; notice only one 't' before 'ing'.
Spell-check tools will always highlight "waitting" as an error.
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How Do You Spell Waiting Correctly?
Incorrect: Waitting for the bus can sometimes take forever.
Correct: Waiting for the bus can sometimes take forever.
Incorrect: She keeps waitting for a reply to her text.
Correct: She keeps waiting for a reply to her text.
Incorrect: We were waitting at the airport for three hours.
Correct: We were waiting at the airport for three hours.
Incorrect: The dog is waitting patiently for its owner to come home.
Correct: The dog is waiting patiently for its owner to come home.
Incorrect: They were waitting in line for hours to get tickets.
Correct: They were waiting in line for hours to get tickets.
Waiting Definitions
A period of time wherein someone anticipates or looks forward to a forthcoming event.
The play had a long waiting before the curtain rose.
Denoting a place where people wait, like a waiting room.
She sat in the waiting area of the doctor's clinic.
A period of time spent waiting.
The state of being deferred or postponed.
The project is now in waiting due to funding issues.
The action of staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or event.
The waiting was the hardest part.
Present participle of the verb "wait", meaning to stay in a place with an expectation.
She was waiting at the bus stop.
Attendance, service.
The act of remaining inactive or stationary.
Present participle of wait
Your guest has been waiting for you.
Waiting for something to happen is part of the job.
They hurried into the waiting car.
(obsolete) Watching.
The act of staying or remaining in expectation.
The act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something);
The wait was an ordeal for him
Being and remaining ready and available for use;
Waiting cars and limousines lined the curb
Found her mother waiting for them
An impressive array of food ready and waiting for the guests
Military forces ready and waiting
Waiting Meaning in a Sentence
Waiting for summer vacation feels like it takes ages.
The waiting room at the doctor's office was full of people.
They have been waiting for the new game release for months.
Waiting for the cookies to bake is the hardest part of baking.
He was waiting outside the cinema for his friends to arrive.
The family was waiting eagerly for the birth of the new baby.
Waiting in line at the amusement park can be very tiring.
I'm waiting for my turn to speak at the meeting.
They were waiting in the cold for the parade to start.
Waiting for the paint to dry before adding another coat is necessary.
She spent the afternoon waiting for the delivery truck to arrive.
Waiting for a friend who is always late requires patience.
Waiting for the perfect moment to take a photo can make a big difference.
Waiting for a response after a job interview can be nerve-wracking.
We were waiting at the bus stop in the rain.
Waiting for a table at the restaurant took longer than expected.
The cat is always waiting by the door when I come home.
The team was waiting to hear if they made it to the finals.
The audience was waiting excitedly for the concert to begin.
I spent the morning waiting in line to get tickets for the show.
Waiting for the water to boil seems to take forever.
Waiting for the storm to pass, we played games indoors.
He was waiting on the platform for the late-night train.
The students were waiting anxiously for their exam results.
Waiting for your garden to grow teaches you patience.
Waiting Idioms & Phrases
The waiting is the hardest part
Expressing the difficulty of waiting for something eagerly anticipated.
As we waited for the results of the competition, we all agreed that the waiting is the hardest part.
Waiting game
A situation where one or more parties decide to wait out the other to achieve a desired outcome.
Negotiating the contract became a waiting game, with each side trying to outlast the other.
Waiting for the other shoe to drop
Anticipating a usually inevitable event, often negative, that has yet to occur.
After the initial layoffs, the remaining employees were waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Waiting with bated breath
Waiting very eagerly and impatiently.
Fans were waiting with bated breath for the release of the final movie in the trilogy.
Waiting on hand and foot
To serve or attend to someone very attentively or obsequiously.
During his stay at the luxury resort, he was waited on hand and foot by the staff.
Waiting for the dust to settle
Waiting for a situation to become clear or stable before taking action.
They decided to wait for the dust to settle after the merger before making any major decisions.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Waiting?
It's derived from the verb "wait," meaning to stay in place with expectation.
What is the root word of Waiting?
The root word is "wait."
Which vowel is used before Waiting?
The vowel "a" is used before the "i" in "Waiting."
What is the plural form of Waiting?
There isn't a standard plural for "waiting." Context will dictate if you refer to multiple instances or periods of waiting.
What is the singular form of Waiting?
"Waiting" itself is singular.
Is Waiting a noun or adjective?
It can be both. E.g., "The waiting is tough" (noun) and "waiting room" (adjective).
Which article is used with Waiting?
Both "a" and "the" can be used based on context.
What is the verb form of Waiting?
The verb form is "wait."
What is the pronunciation of Waiting?
/ˈweɪ.tɪŋ/
Which conjunction is used with Waiting?
Conjunction use varies by context; "and" and "while" can be used.
Which preposition is used with Waiting?
Commonly "for" as in "waiting for."
Is Waiting an abstract noun?
Yes, when referring to the concept or state of waiting.
Is Waiting a negative or positive word?
Neutral by itself; context determines its sentiment.
Is Waiting an adverb?
No.
Is the word Waiting a Gerund?
Yes, it's the gerund form of the verb "wait."
What is the first form of Waiting?
Wait.
What is a stressed syllable in Waiting?
The first syllable, "wait."
What part of speech is Waiting?
It can be a noun, adjective, or gerund (verb form).
Which determiner is used with Waiting?
"The" or "my" or others, depending on context.
Is Waiting a collective noun?
No.
Is the word Waiting imperative?
No.
Is the word “Waiting” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be a direct object, e.g., "I hate waiting."
How many syllables are in Waiting?
Two syllables.
How do we divide Waiting into syllables?
Wait-ing.
What is the third form of Waiting?
Waited.
Is Waiting a vowel or consonant?
It's a word, not a single letter, so it contains both vowels and consonants.
What is another term for Waiting?
Anticipating.
What is the second form of Waiting?
Waited.
Is Waiting a countable noun?
Typically not. But can be in contexts like "There were many waitings before the event started."
Is the Waiting term a metaphor?
By itself, no. But it can be used metaphorically.
What is the opposite of Waiting?
Acting or proceeding.
How is Waiting used in a sentence?
"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
