left her waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left her waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has caused another person to wait, often implying a sense of neglect or disappointment. Example: "He promised to meet her at the café, but he left her waiting for over an hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

According to local legend she was a beautiful Indian woman whose lover had gone off to war and left her waiting by the sea.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I had to leave her waiting" (nurse attendant, NA, W1).

Human Resources for Health

Don't leave her waiting!! Girls hate that, it leaves them confused.

WikiHow

I was also dying to piss, but I thought it might kill the mood if I darted off to take a leak and left her there waiting for me.

Vice

I was also dying for a piss, but I though it might kill the mood if I darted off to take a leak and left her there waiting for me.

Vice

This left her daughter eternally waiting, "always the last to be picked up from birthday parties, Sunday School, ballet class".

The New York Times - Books

I smiled and left her standing there waiting.

Huffington Post

Her messenger service is closed, but she delivers the chocolates ($60.83) herself, leaving her date waiting in the taxi.

The New York Times - Style

She didn't want to be rude and leave her hairstylist waiting.

Los Angeles Times

While the Capricorn mother will probably not run the risk of leaving her kid waiting around after school, it's all too easy for her to let the stresses of a heavily-planned lifestyle get to her and harden her a bit.

Huffington Post

My first reaction is not to take her to the Breeders' Cup and to leave her and wait for next year".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "left her waiting" to convey a sense of neglect or disappointment when someone is made to wait unexpectedly or longer than anticipated.

Common error

Avoid using "left her waiting" in neutral situations where waiting is expected or pre-arranged. It implies a negative experience of being made to wait.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left her waiting" primarily functions as a verbal phrase within a sentence. It typically describes an action performed by someone that results in another person being in a state of waiting. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left her waiting" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that implies a negative experience of being made to wait, often conveying neglect or disappointment. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's important to consider the context and potential connotations. More neutral alternatives, such as "made her wait" or "caused her to wait", might be more appropriate in certain situations. This phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kept her waiting

Replaces "left" with "kept", emphasizing the continuous nature of the waiting.

made her wait

Uses a more direct verb, "made", to indicate the action of causing someone to wait.

caused her to wait

More formal and explicit about the cause-and-effect relationship.

delayed her

Focuses on the act of delaying someone, implying that she was meant to proceed but was held back.

held her up

Suggests a temporary obstruction or delay.

kept her on hold

Specifically refers to waiting on the phone, but can be used metaphorically.

left her in anticipation

Emphasizes the state of anticipation while waiting.

abandoned her to wait

Stronger connotation of abandonment while waiting.

made her linger

Implies a more passive form of waiting, perhaps without a clear purpose.

prolonged her wait

Highlights the lengthening of the waiting period.

FAQs

How can I use "left her waiting" in a sentence?

You can use "left her waiting" to describe a situation where someone caused another person to wait, often implying neglect or disappointment. For example, "He promised to meet her, but he "left her waiting" for an hour."

What can I say instead of "left her waiting"?

Alternatives include "kept her waiting", "made her wait", or "caused her to wait" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "left her waiting" or "made her wait"?

"Left her waiting" often carries a stronger implication of neglect or abandonment, while "made her wait" is more neutral. The choice depends on the specific context and the intended emotional tone.

Can "left her waiting" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "left her waiting" can be used in formal writing, but consider whether a more neutral alternative like "caused her to wait" would be more appropriate depending on the specific context.