wait an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

'wait an hour' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to delay something for one hour. For example, you could write "Please wait an hour before sending the email."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Health

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And I can't wait an hour!

The New York Times

Sometimes we have to wait an hour.

The New York Times - Magazine

Wait an hour after eating before swimming.

The New York Times

Rupp had to wait an hour and a half.

The New Yorker

"The people gotta wait an hour to play over there.

The New York Times

"Because of you I had to wait an hour".

The New York Times

"Sometimes we're late for work because we have to wait an hour for the bathroom".

The New York Times

"But you can't have a client wait an hour for a table".

The New York Times - Food

"If you have to wait an hour, you have tremendous problems".

The New York Times

After midday, customers regularly wait an hour and half to get in to the Yongkang branch.

The New York Times - Travel

"We had to wait an hour and a half to get in.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving instructions involving time-sensitive actions (e.g., in recipes, medical advice), use "wait an hour" to clearly specify the duration of the delay. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "wait an hour" without specifying the context. For example, instead of saying "wait an hour", clarify it as "wait an hour after applying the cream" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wait an hour" primarily functions as an instruction or directive, often used to specify a period of delay before a particular action should be taken. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase commonly appears in contexts where timing is important, such as health advice or recipes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

38%

HuffPost

10%

Less common in

Forbes

3%

BBC

3%

The Washington Post

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wait an hour" is a common and grammatically sound expression used primarily to instruct or guide actions contingent on a specific time delay. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability across numerous contexts. This phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Health-related content. When using "wait an hour", clarity is key; ensure the context is well-defined to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "delay for 60 minutes" for greater precision, or "hold off for an hour" to emphasize postponement. Remember, while versatile, the effectiveness of "wait an hour" lies in its clear and contextual application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pause for an hour

Replaces "wait" with "pause", emphasizing a temporary halt rather than anticipation.

delay for 60 minutes

Substitutes "hour" with "60 minutes", adding a specific numerical value to the duration.

hold off for an hour

Uses "hold off" instead of "wait", suggesting a postponement or deferral of action.

put it off for an hour

Emphasizes delaying something for a specific period.

take a one-hour break

Focuses on the act of interrupting an activity for a specific time.

rest for an hour

Replaces "wait" with "rest", implying a period of inactivity or relaxation.

suspend activity for an hour

Indicates a temporary cessation of a particular action.

grant a one-hour reprieve

Adds a sense of temporary relief or postponement to the waiting period.

allow one hour to pass

Focuses on the passage of time before a subsequent action.

give it an hour

An imperative form, suggesting a short period of time to wait before making a decision or taking action

FAQs

How can I use "wait an hour" in a sentence?

You can use "wait an hour" in a sentence to instruct someone to delay an action for 60 minutes. For example, "Wait an hour before swimming after eating."

What's a less literal alternative to "wait an hour"?

For a less literal way to say "wait an hour", you could use phrases like "delay for 60 minutes" or "hold off for an hour" depending on the context.

Is it more precise to say "wait 60 minutes" instead of "wait an hour"?

While both "wait an hour" and "wait 60 minutes" refer to the same duration, "wait 60 minutes" provides a numerical precision that may be preferable in scientific or technical contexts where exactness is crucial.

What does it mean when someone says "just give it an hour"?

Saying "give it an hour" often implies a request for patience, suggesting that a situation will resolve or improve within that timeframe.