I waited him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I waited him" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "I waited for him." You can use the correct phrase when expressing that you were expecting someone to arrive and you stayed in a place until they did. Example: "I waited for him at the coffee shop for over an hour before he finally showed up."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I waited him out.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I felt like I was waiting him to click, as I know he can, and he just didn't.

BBC

I waited for him, thrilled to see him.

Huffington Post

I waited for him.

The New Yorker

I waited for him to be stunned.

The New Yorker

I waited for him to go on.

The New Yorker

I waited for him to get up.

The New Yorker

I waited for him to explain himself.

The New York Times

As I waited for him, I was accosted by the smack-talking riders.

The New York Times - Travel

I waited for him to come out, but he never did.

The New Yorker

I didn't know what he was talking about, but I waited for him to go on.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the preposition "for" after "waited" when referring to waiting for a person. The correct phrase is "I waited for him".

Common error

Avoid saying "I waited him". This phrasing is grammatically incorrect. Remember to always include "for": "I waited for him."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I waited him" functions, albeit incorrectly, as a declarative statement expressing the act of waiting for someone. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the correct usage requires the preposition "for" (i.e., "I waited for him"). The existing example on Ludwig demonstrates its use in narrative context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I waited him" might appear in some contexts, it is considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the proper phrasing is "I waited for him." This correction is essential for clarity and adherence to standard English grammar. Remember to use "I waited for him" to accurately convey the act of waiting for someone. Several examples of more appropriate phrases include "I was waiting for him", or "I expected him".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I waited for him

Adds the preposition "for" to create a grammatically correct and standard English phrase.

I was waiting for him

Uses the past continuous tense for a grammatically correct and common way to express waiting.

I anticipated his arrival

Replaces "waited" with "anticipated" to convey expectation with a more formal tone.

I expected him

Uses "expected" instead of "waited" to focus on the expectation of someone's arrival.

I kept waiting for him

Adds "kept" to emphasize the continuous nature of waiting.

I was expecting him

Uses "was expecting" to put the emphasis on the state of expectation

I hung around for him

Uses more informal phrasing of "hung around" which means to wait or stay near a place.

I bided my time for him

Suggests waiting with patience or strategy until the right moment.

I looked out for him

Implies not just waiting but also watching or being vigilant for someone's appearance.

I tarried for him

Conveys waiting with a sense of lingering or delaying, often implying a pleasant or reluctant wait.

FAQs

Why is "I waited him" considered grammatically incorrect?

In English, the verb "wait" requires the preposition "for" when used transitively with a person as the object. Therefore, the correct phrasing is "I waited for him" to properly express waiting for someone.

What are some alternatives to "I waited for him"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "I was waiting for him", "I expected him", or "I anticipated his arrival".

Is there a difference between "I waited for him" and "I waited on him"?

Yes, "I waited for him" means you were expecting him to arrive. "I waited on him" means you served or attended to his needs, like a waiter serving a customer.

How can I use "I waited for him" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a situation where you were expecting someone: "I waited for him at the cafe, but he never showed up."