purposely waited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "purposely waited" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that an action was done intentionally and on purpose. For example: "He purposely waited until the last minute to turn in his assignment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Some suggest that the F.B.I. purposely waited to net a bigger fish: Mr. Assange.

The New York Times

Of the new studies behind Friday's announcement, he said, "They purposely waited until they had not only a smoking gun, but an exploding gun".

The New York Times

A small but very significant detail I purposely waited to mention.

Huffington Post

So we had purposely waited the two weeks after it opened and picked a time when the fewest people would be at the theater.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

11 01 DMan: Hey, what are you up to tonite (-17 for heinous spelling)....you purposely wait 3 minutes to BBM back lest you seem too desperate.

Huffington Post

If she's playing hard to get, she might be purposely waiting, so don't put too much stock in this.

WikiHow

"I think that the hostesses purposely make you wait at the bar even if your table is ready," said Lorena McCollum, 25, a makeup artist who considers herself a regular.

The New York Times - Style

He was known for purposely making MPs wait for hours to see him, even when he'd requested the meeting.

Vice

While each contestant waited to be examined, producers purposely left opposing contestants files in the room to see who would snoop.

Huffington Post

"The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schave System should have waited for the courts to make a decision instead of purposely breaking state law".

Huffington Post

As Johnson waited for the lighting crew to finish setting up, he and Simon reminisced about how Johnson had repeated one "Homicide" speech over and over, purposely dropping a line that Simon had written.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "purposely waited" when you want to emphasize that the waiting was not accidental but a deliberate choice. It adds a layer of intentionality to the action.

Common error

Avoid using "purposely waited" when the delay was due to external factors or unforeseen circumstances. The phrase implies a conscious decision to wait, not simply a passive experience of waiting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "purposely waited" functions as an adverbial modifier + verb construction. The adverb "purposely" modifies the verb "waited", indicating the manner in which the action was performed. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which deems it grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "purposely waited" is a grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize intentionality in delaying an action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while not exceedingly common, its use is appropriate in various contexts, particularly within News & Media. Related phrases like "deliberately delayed" and "intentionally paused" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression. When using "purposely waited", ensure the context aligns with a conscious decision to wait, avoiding its application to unintentional delays.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberately delayed

Emphasizes the intentional postponement of an action.

intentionally paused

Highlights a planned interruption before proceeding.

knowingly deferred

Stresses awareness and acceptance in postponing something.

consciously held back

Implies a deliberate restraint from acting immediately.

calculatedly lingered

Suggests a strategic and prolonged delay.

purposefully stalled

Highlights the intention to impede or slow down progress.

designedly put off

Emphasizes the pre-planned nature of the postponement.

artificially prolonged

Indicates a delay achieved through artificial means.

schemingly bided time

Suggests waiting as part of a larger, often secretive plan.

tactically suspended

Emphasizes a strategic and temporary cessation.

FAQs

How can I use "purposely waited" in a sentence?

You can use "purposely waited" to indicate that someone intentionally delayed an action. For example, "She "purposely waited" until the end of the meeting to ask her question".

What are some alternatives to "purposely waited"?

Some alternatives include "deliberately delayed", "intentionally paused", or "knowingly deferred" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "purposely waited" grammatically correct?

Yes, "purposely waited" is grammatically correct. "Purposely" is an adverb modifying the verb "waited".

What is the difference between "purposely waited" and "accidentally waited"?

"Purposely waited" implies a deliberate and intentional decision to wait, while "accidentally waited" suggests that the waiting was unintentional and due to chance or unforeseen circumstances.