has been waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "She has been waiting for the bus for over an hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has been waiting for years.

The New York Times

She has been waiting two months.

The New York Times

Hollywood has been waiting for this movie.

The Guardian - Film

He has been waiting too long already.

The New Yorker

The skyline has been waiting for this.

The New York Times - Arts

He, too, has been waiting decades to be king.

The New York Times - Sports

She has been waiting out here an hour.

The New Yorker

Terfel unbound: the Wotan the world has been waiting for.

The New York Times - Arts

"The creek has been waiting for me all this time.

The New York Times

She has been waiting a year to go home.

The Economist

"Uber?" asks Agent Scully, who has been waiting for him.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been waiting", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being waited for, providing a specific object or event to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been waiting" when the waiting period has already concluded. In such cases, use "had been waiting" to indicate a past perfect continuous action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been waiting" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that began in the past and is still ongoing or has recently ceased. Ludwig confirms this as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been waiting" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe an action that began in the past and continues to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is versatile and appropriate for various contexts, though primarily found in News & Media sources. When using "has been waiting", ensure clarity regarding what is being waited for and avoid confusing it with the past perfect continuous tense. Consider alternatives like "has awaited" or "has anticipated" for different nuances. Be careful to not confuse the correct form "has been waiting" for general waiting situations with "has been waiting on", because that last form means waiting for someone to serve you.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has awaited

Replaces the continuous tense with a perfect tense, simplifying the verb form.

has anticipated

Substitutes "waiting" with a more formal term, emphasizing expectation.

has been expecting

Focuses on the expectation aspect rather than the act of waiting.

has been looking forward to

Emphasizes positive anticipation of a future event.

has been eager for

Highlights the enthusiasm and keenness of anticipation.

has been in expectation of

A more formal and elaborate way of expressing anticipation.

has been on the lookout for

Implies active vigilance while waiting.

has been biding time for

Suggests waiting for an opportune moment.

has been patiently awaiting

Emphasizes the patience involved in waiting.

has long awaited

Highlights the length of the waiting period.

FAQs

How do I use "has been waiting" in a sentence?

Use "has been waiting" to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "She "has been waiting" for the bus for an hour".

What can I say instead of "has been waiting"?

You can use alternatives like "has awaited", "has anticipated", or "has been expecting" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "has been waiting" and "waited"?

"Has been waiting" indicates a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing. "Waited" implies a completed action in the past.

Is "has been waiting on" correct?

While "has been waiting" is grammatically sound and commonly used, "has been waiting on" implies waiting for someone to serve or attend to you. For general waiting, "has been waiting for" is more appropriate.