awaiting rescue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awaiting rescue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something is in a situation where help or salvation is needed. Example: "The stranded hikers were awaiting rescue as the search and rescue team worked tirelessly to locate them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The princess is at the right of the final main level, awaiting rescue.

The New York Times - Arts

New Bern city officials announced on Twitter that roughly 150 people are currently awaiting rescue.

The Washington Post

Branagh also reveals there are 400,000 men on the Dunkirk beaches awaiting rescue.

The Guardian - Film

About 18 other workers were reported missing or in life rafts awaiting rescue.

The New York Times

We are praying for all those still awaiting rescue and sending strength to their families.

The Guardian - Sport

Gorgeous teenage girls used to tanning, teeth whitening and tearing apart the competition fend for themselves while awaiting rescue!

The New York Times - Books

Damsels can be in distress, without being distressed ladies — blithely awaiting rescue, without a ribbon out of place.

The New Yorker

About 6,000 people are still awaiting rescue amid landslides and torrents of water, the authorities said.

The Times

They seemed like tiny figurines, and he didn't know if they were awaiting rescue or merely looking out.

The New York Times

Many of the displaced Tamil civilians are huddled on a barren beach, awaiting rescue from what is supposed to be a government-designated "safe zone".

The Economist

Nearly the entire village of Waltengoo Nar was flattened, and residents who were not killed immediately were often trapped for days awaiting rescue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awaiting rescue" when describing a situation where individuals or entities are in a position of needing to be saved or extracted from a dangerous or undesirable situation. Ensure the context clearly indicates who is awaiting rescue and from what situation.

Common error

Avoid using "awaiting rescue" when the subject is actively engaged in self-rescue. The phrase implies a state of waiting and dependence on others for help, not active participation in one's own salvation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awaiting rescue" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the state of someone or something that is in a situation where they require rescue, as evidenced by examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "awaiting rescue" is a commonly used and grammatically correct adjectival phrase that describes a state of needing assistance or extraction from a dangerous or undesirable situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appears frequently in news reports, formal business documents, and even in encyclopedic or wiki contexts. While alternatives like "waiting to be saved" or "needing extraction" exist, "awaiting rescue" succinctly conveys a sense of passivity and dependence on external help. To ensure clarity, it's best used when the subject is clearly in a state of waiting and not actively engaged in self-rescue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

waiting to be saved

Replaces "rescue" with "saved", offering a slightly more informal tone.

in need of saving

Focuses on the necessity of being saved, shifting the emphasis slightly from the act of awaiting.

needing extraction

Emphasizes the removal from a difficult location or situation.

requiring assistance

Highlights the need for help in a more general sense.

stranded and helpless

Adds the element of being without resources or aid, making the situation more dire.

awaiting deliverance

Uses a more formal and sometimes religious term for rescue, implying a higher power or force.

in peril and needing help

Emphasizes the danger and the requirement for assistance.

trapped and seeking aid

Highlights the state of being confined and the active search for assistance.

desperate for retrieval

Focuses on the urgency and desire for being retrieved from a difficult situation.

left to be rescued

Emphasizes abandonment and the passive role of waiting for a rescue.

FAQs

How can I use "awaiting rescue" in a sentence?

You can use "awaiting rescue" to describe people or things that are in a situation where they need to be rescued. For example, "The stranded hikers were "awaiting rescue" after the blizzard hit".

What are some alternatives to "awaiting rescue"?

Alternatives include phrases like "waiting to be saved", "in need of saving", or "needing extraction", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "awaiting to be rescued" instead of "awaiting rescue"?

While understandable, "awaiting to be rescued" is less common and can sound awkward. "Awaiting rescue" is the more concise and grammatically preferred phrasing.

What's the difference between "awaiting rescue" and "needing rescue"?

"Awaiting rescue" implies a passive state of waiting for help to arrive, while "needing rescue" simply highlights the requirement for assistance. The former emphasizes the waiting aspect, whereas the latter focuses on the necessity.