much waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a significant amount of time spent waiting for something or someone. Example: "After much waiting, the train finally arrived at the station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

The rest was pretty much waiting around.

The New York Times

Their day-to-day lives involved much waiting.

The New York Times

In the feature film world, there's so much waiting around and then it's zero-to-60.

The Guardian - Film

Seldom has the movement of an object entailed so much waiting and worrying, friction and fuss.

The New York Times

There's too much waiting around on set, he says, and writing fiction is "much cheaper".

The Guardian - Books

India, she feels, requires too much waiting, too much dependence, and is plagued by too many small-minded dreams.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

"You just have to pretty much wait your turn".

The New York Times - Sports

"If you're not expecting much, wait until you see what's about to happen to you".

BBC

If you're reading this on a bus, I'd pretty much wait until you were somewhere a little more private before continuing.

Vice

If nothing seems to move much, wait about a half-hour before trying again.

WikiHow

There was so much pain, so much unknown, waiting for my biopsy results.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "much waiting" to emphasize a substantial or tedious duration of waiting, particularly when highlighting the impact or consequences of the wait. For example, "After much waiting, the results were finally announced."

Common error

Avoid using "much waiting" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise or sophisticated alternatives like "considerable delay" or "prolonged anticipation" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much waiting" functions as a noun phrase, where "much" modifies the gerund "waiting". It quantifies the extent of the waiting, similar to examples found on Ludwig. It indicates a significant amount of time spent waiting.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

14%

Huffington Post

11%

Less common in

Vice

9%

Independent

7%

The New York Times

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much waiting" is a commonly used phrase to denote a significant amount of time spent waiting. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently in News & Media. While versatile, it's essential to consider the context and register when using "much waiting", as more formal alternatives may be preferable in certain situations. Ludwig provides numerous examples to illustrate its usage, and understanding these examples can help ensure appropriate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great deal of waiting

Emphasizes the quantity of waiting involved.

considerable waiting time

Highlights the duration of the waiting period.

lengthy wait

Focuses on the extended nature of the waiting.

prolonged waiting period

Stresses the extended timeframe of waiting.

extensive waiting

Indicates a broad or significant amount of waiting.

long delay

Shifts the focus to the delay itself, implying waiting.

significant waiting

Highlights the importance or impact of the waiting period.

extended anticipation

Emphasizes the feeling of anticipation during a long wait.

substantial delay

Similar to "long delay", but emphasizes the degree of delay.

protracted waiting

Implies a drawn-out or unnecessarily long waiting period.

FAQs

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

You can use "much waiting" to describe a situation where there has been a significant amount of time spent waiting. For instance, "After much waiting, the long-awaited decision was finally made public".

What are some alternatives to "much waiting"?

Alternatives to "much waiting" include "considerable delay", "lengthy wait", or "prolonged anticipation" depending on the context.

Is "much waiting" formal or informal?

"Much waiting" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in various contexts, but it might be more appropriate to use a more formal phrase like "significant delay" in academic or professional writing.

When is it best to use "much waiting" over other similar phrases?

Use "much waiting" when you want to emphasize the duration and perhaps the tedium or impact of the waiting period. Phrases like "considerable waiting time" or "extensive delay" might be better if you specifically want to focus on the time or the delay itself.