kept waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is made to wait for a period of time, often implying a sense of frustration or inconvenience. Example: "I was kept waiting for over an hour before my appointment finally started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She kept waiting.

The Economist

The Colts kept waiting.

The New York Times - Sports

So he just kept waiting.

The New York Times

We kept waiting for the Big Book.

The New Yorker

He'd kept waiting for some special dispensation.

The New Yorker

Mr. Massey kept waiting to become ill.

The New York Times - Science

I hung up and kept waiting.

The New York Times - Style

Citizens are routinely kept waiting and humiliated at checkpoints.

The Economist

The Turks have been kept waiting for decades.

The Economist

He kept waiting, kept hoping Walker would stand up.

The New York Times - Sports

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

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "kept waiting", consider the context and whether you want to emphasize the inconvenience or the reason for the delay. Provide context to explain why the waiting occurred.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses that disrupt the flow or meaning. For example, instead of "They keep waiting", use "They were kept waiting" to indicate a past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept waiting" primarily functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes a state where someone or something is caused to wait, often implying a sense of inconvenience or anticipation. As confirmed by Ludwig, this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kept waiting" is a versatile and commonly used passive verb phrase that effectively communicates a state of delay or anticipation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using "kept waiting", consider the specific context and whether you want to emphasize the inconvenience or the reason for the delay. Be mindful of tense consistency and choose alternative phrases such as "held up" or "delayed" to diversify your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held up

Highlights the act of being prevented from proceeding or being available.

kept in suspense

Focuses on the uncertainty and anxiety of waiting for a resolution.

left lingering

Focuses on the prolonged aspect of waiting and a sense of being left behind.

forced to linger

Highlights the involuntary nature of the waiting experience.

delayed intentionally

Emphasizes the deliberate nature of causing someone to wait.

prolonged delay experienced

Emphasizes the duration and the personal experience of the delay.

made to tarry

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying someone was made to wait.

remained in anticipation

Highlights the hopeful expectation while waiting.

patiently awaited

Shifts focus to the act of waiting with patience, rather than the act of being kept waiting.

languished pending

Implies a negative and somewhat hopeless sense of waiting.

FAQs

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

You can use "kept waiting" to describe situations where someone experiences a delay. For example, "The passengers were kept waiting on the tarmac due to a storm."

What phrases can I use instead of "kept waiting"?

Alternatives include "held up", "delayed", or "made to wait". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Kept waiting" indicates a past action, while "keep waiting" suggests a continuous or habitual action. For example, "I was kept waiting" (past) versus "They keep waiting for the bus" (present continuous).

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

"Kept waiting" suggests an external force caused the delay. "Remained waiting" implies a voluntary or passive state of waiting. For example, "The doctor kept her waiting" versus "She remained waiting for the test results".