keep waiting for

USAGE SUMMARY

"keep waiting for" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone is being instructed or requested to continue waiting for something. For example: - "Please keep waiting for me, I'll be there as soon as I can." - "She told me to keep waiting for the results of my application." - "We have been keeping waiting for the bus for over an hour now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Both groups keep waiting for next year.

The New York Times

You keep waiting for the heaviness to leave you.

The New Yorker

"You keep waiting for outflows, but it doesn't happen".

The New York Times

"I don't want to keep waiting for it to happen.

The New York Times - Sports

"We keep waiting for doctors to develop a miracle cure".

The New York Times

"I keep waiting for that to happen," Ms. Hughes said.

The New York Times

"I keep waiting for fees to go down, but they're only going up," she said.

The New York Times

And you can't do that if you keep waiting for the full disorder to emerge".

The New York Times - Health

People keep waiting for us to screw up, but we didn't let up.

The New York Times - Sports

I keep waiting for it with dread: the night that he just runs out.

The New Yorker

"I keep waiting for the day when I have shortness of breath," he said.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keep waiting for" when you want to emphasize the duration or persistence of the waiting period. For example, "They "keep waiting for" the project to be approved."

Common error

While "keep waiting for" is perfectly acceptable in many contexts, it can sound less professional in formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "persist in expecting" or "remain in anticipation of" to maintain a more formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep waiting for" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a continuous action of anticipation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It is often used to describe a state of expectation that persists over time, as demonstrated in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keep waiting for" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express the act of continuously anticipating something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely found in news and media, conveying a sense of prolonged expectation. While versatile, remember to consider the context: in formal writing, alternatives like "remain in anticipation of" may be more appropriate. Use "keep waiting for" when you want to emphasize the duration and persistence involved in expecting a particular outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

patiently anticipate

Emphasizes the patience involved in waiting.

continue to await

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of waiting.

delay acting until

Focuses on postponing action until a specific event.

persist in expecting

Highlights the unwavering belief that something will eventually happen.

postpone until

Focuses on deferring until a specific event.

remain in anticipation of

Formal and emphasizes the state of expectation.

stand by for

Suggests being prepared for something to happen soon.

hold out for

Suggests resisting alternatives until the desired outcome appears.

bide one's time until

Implies waiting strategically for the right moment.

keep holding your breath for

Idiomatic and suggests skepticism about the likelihood of something happening.

FAQs

How can I use "keep waiting for" in a sentence?

You can use "keep waiting for" to express the act of continuously anticipating something. For example, "We "keep waiting for" the package to arrive", or "I "keep waiting for" her call".

What are some alternatives to "keep waiting for"?

Alternatives include "continue to await", "patiently anticipate", or "remain in anticipation of" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "kept waiting for" instead of "keep waiting for"?

Yes, "kept waiting for" is the past tense form. "Keep waiting for" implies a present or future continuous action, while "kept waiting for" refers to a past action.

What's the difference between "keep waiting for" and "wait for"?

"Wait for" simply means to await something. "Keep waiting for" emphasizes the continuous or prolonged nature of the waiting. The first suggests a continuous action, the second simply that an action will occur.