await

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'await' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are waiting for something with enthusiasm or expectation. For example: "We await the results of the election with anticipation".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Defoe jogs back to the midfield area to await Jasmin Hadanovic's goal-kick.

The Guardian - Sport

I anxiously await the new episode each Monday night.

The Guardian

When these people arrive at Australian detention centres, they are left with severe sunburn and skin rashes, sitting in clothing drenched with faeces and urine while they await interrogation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hughes, 61, spoke as he returned to his home in Florida to await prosecution on charges of violating national airspace and operating an unregistered aircraft.

The Guardian

"We welcome this development and await the outcome of investigation," he said.

The Guardian

They are in the Copa del Rey final, they lead 3-0 from the first leg in the Champions League semi-final, with Real Madrid likely to await them in Berlin, and now they watched from Camp Nou as Valencia helped them take a giant step towards the title.

The Guardian - Sport

Different tests await, and a celebrated back line that has now kept nine clean sheets in 10 matches will have to remain watertight if progress is to be forced to Berlin in June.

The Guardian - Sport

We await with interest the outcome of a complaint to the ABC's rural department about a Cherie von Hörchner story which ridiculed Peta for complaining that sheep had been verbally abused by shearers on the Boorungie station last year.

The Guardian

I take the new bag to work the following day and await comments.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Uprooting its furniture will be no easy decision, but many more like it await.

The Guardian - Sport

The official said that the tents would be needed for at least three months because reconstruction would await new plans to avoid a third disaster.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "await" when you want to convey a sense of formality or anticipation. It is particularly suitable for professional or literary contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "await" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "wait for" or "expect" sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

Await primarily functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It signifies the act of waiting for something or someone. Ludwig highlights numerous examples where "await" is used to express anticipation or expectation, indicating its active role in conveying a sense of expectancy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Await is a versatile verb used to express waiting, often with a sense of formality or anticipation. As demonstrated by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it enjoys very common usage across various contexts such as news, business, and even scientific publications. While "await" can add a touch of elegance to your writing, it's important to consider the context and choose a more casual alternative like "wait for" when appropriate. Its close synonyms include "anticipate" and "expect", each carrying slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wait for

A more common and less formal way to express waiting.

anticipate

Suggests a sense of excitement or eagerness while waiting.

expect

Implies a strong belief that something will happen.

look forward to

Expresses pleasure or anticipation about a future event.

lie in wait

Suggests waiting in ambush or concealment.

be in store for

Indicates that something is destined to happen.

watch for

Implies observing closely for a specific occurrence.

stay tuned for

Often used to create anticipation for an upcoming announcement.

await the arrival of

More descriptive, emphasizing the act of waiting for someone or something to appear.

keep an eye out for

Suggests vigilance while waiting.

FAQs

How to use "await" in a sentence?

The verb "await" is typically used to express waiting for something with a degree of anticipation. For example, "We "await" your response to our proposal."

What can I say instead of "await"?

You can use alternatives like "wait for", "expect", or "anticipate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "await" or "wait for"?

"Await" and "wait for" are both correct, but "await" is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation than "wait for".

What's the difference between "await" and "anticipate"?

"Await" simply means to wait for something, while "anticipate" implies expecting something with a sense of excitement or eagerness.