is kept waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is kept waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is made to wait for something or someone, often implying a sense of inconvenience or delay. Example: "She was frustrated because she is kept waiting for her appointment longer than expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

His prospective new client, of course, is kept waiting.

The New York Times

The compensation rules may not apply if the council is kept waiting for parts.

The Guardian

In Liberia he is kept waiting, waiting, waiting -- and Johnson is not a patient man.

The New York Times - Books

Dimitri Yachvili The French newspapers have termed him "the English patient" because of the way he is kept waiting and then turns out against Les Rosbifs.

The Guardian - Sport

Journeys are almost always longer than he is told; he is kept waiting; diviners all demand to be paid; there is rubbish everywhere; the temperatures are intolerable.

The Guardian - Books

When Andreas is kept waiting by his girlfriend, who is visiting his mother, he thinks of the two women: "Talking, talking, talking.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Is this the game changer that the nation has been kept waiting for?

The Guardian - Opinion

I do not wish to be kept waiting any longer.

Yale University

The Turks have been kept waiting for decades.

The Economist

Those ships cannot be kept waiting for a berth.

The New Yorker

Otherwise, he would have been kept waiting a long time.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is kept waiting", consider the context to ensure it accurately conveys the reason for the delay and the person or entity causing it. For instance, specify who or what caused the delay for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "is kept waiting" when the active voice would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The customers were kept waiting by the inefficient staff", consider "The inefficient staff kept the customers waiting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is kept waiting" functions as a passive construction indicating that the subject experiences a delay caused by an external factor. This is evident in Ludwig's examples, where individuals or entities are subjected to waiting due to someone or something else.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Books

30%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is kept waiting" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone is made to wait, often implying inconvenience or delay. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse contexts. While it's most commonly found in News & Media, books and sports, it’s important to consider the active voice for a more direct and impactful expression. Alternatives such as "is made to wait" or "is delayed" can be used depending on the desired tone and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is made to wait

Replaces the passive "kept" with "made", emphasizing the action of causing the wait.

is left waiting

Focuses on the state of being left in a waiting condition.

is made to tarry

Uses a more formal word for wait, changing the tone slightly.

is delayed

Simple and direct, indicating a postponement or hold-up.

is held up

Implies an obstruction or something preventing progress.

is stalled

Suggests a complete halt in progress, more forceful than "kept waiting".

is cooling his heels

An idiomatic expression, implying impatience during the wait.

is marking time

Suggests waiting idly without making progress.

is hanging about

Informal, indicating waiting around without a specific purpose.

is twiddling thumbs

Suggests boredom and inactivity while waiting.

FAQs

How can I use "is kept waiting" in a sentence?

You can use "is kept waiting" to describe a situation where someone experiences a delay, for example, "The client "was kept waiting" due to the manager's late arrival".

What's a more formal way to say "is kept waiting"?

For a more formal tone, you could use "is made to wait" or "is delayed". These options are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Which is correct, "is kept waiting" or "was kept waiting"?

Both "is kept waiting" and "was kept waiting" are grammatically correct. "Is kept waiting" is used for present or general situations, while "was kept waiting" refers to a past event. For example, "He "is kept waiting" at every appointment" versus "He "was kept waiting" yesterday".

What's the difference between "is kept waiting" and "is waiting"?

"Is waiting" simply describes the state of waiting. "Is kept waiting" implies that someone or something is causing the person to wait, suggesting a delay imposed by an external factor. For instance, "He "is waiting" for the bus" vs "He "is kept waiting" by the delayed bus schedule".