could not wait

USAGE SUMMARY

"could not wait" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use this phrase when you're expressing that someone is very eager for something to happen. For example: "I was so excited for my vacation that I couldn't wait to get on the plane."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mrs. Sirleaf could not wait.

The New York Times

One, though, could not wait.

The Economist

Feeding people could not wait.

The Economist

We could not wait".

The Guardian

But everyone could not wait.

The New York Times - Sports

Specialist Soto could not wait.

The New York Times

Father Thomas could not wait.

The New York Times

But he could not wait.

The New York Times

I could not wait to get started.

The New York Times

And the printer could not wait.

The New York Times

"I could not wait for help.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could not wait" to emphasize a strong feeling of anticipation or eagerness for something to happen. It conveys a sense of impatience and excitement.

Common error

While acceptable in most contexts, overuse of "could not wait" in highly formal writing might sound less sophisticated. Consider alternatives like "was eager to" or "anticipated with excitement" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not wait" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a strong feeling of anticipation or eagerness. It indicates that someone was unable to delay or postpone an action or event due to their excitement or impatience. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a valid and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could not wait" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey a strong feeling of anticipation or eagerness. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and the examples show its prevalent usage in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. While versatile, it's advisable to use synonyms like "was eager to" or "anticipated with excitement" in very formal writing. The phrase effectively communicates a sense of impatience and excitement, making it a valuable tool for expressing enthusiasm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could hardly wait

Emphasizes the difficulty of waiting due to excitement or anticipation.

couldn't resist

Implies an inability to refrain from doing something, often due to temptation or desire.

was eager to

A more straightforward and formal way of expressing eagerness.

was impatient to

Emphasizes the feeling of restlessness while waiting.

longed to

Expresses a deep yearning or desire.

was anxious to

Suggests a sense of worry or concern in addition to eagerness.

was itching to

Implies a strong urge to do something, often with a sense of excitement.

was dying to

An informal way of expressing a strong desire.

was keen to

A more formal and British English way of expressing eagerness.

anticipated eagerly

Highlights the anticipation and excitement surrounding an event.

FAQs

What does "could not wait" mean?

The phrase "could not wait" indicates that someone was very eager and impatient for something to happen. It expresses a strong feeling of anticipation.

What can I say instead of "could not wait"?

You can use alternatives like "was eager to", "could hardly wait", or "was impatient to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "can't wait" instead of "could not wait"?

Yes, "can't wait" is the present tense equivalent of "could not wait". Both are correct, but "could not wait" implies a past feeling of eagerness, while "can't wait" expresses a current one.

How can I use "could not wait" in a sentence?

You can use "could not wait" to describe someone's eagerness for an event. For example, "She "could hardly wait" for her birthday party" or "He "was eager to" to see his family after a long trip".