wait for hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "wait for hours" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is mainly used to express the idea that someone waited for a long time, often as a result of a delay. For example: "Jane had to wait for hours for her flight to arrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"We had to wait for hours until we got permission".

The Guardian

But many others wait for hours to get in.

The New York Times

Or, standing in a river, he would wait for hours until a fish tickled his line.

The Economist

But for some reason they made me wait for hours and hours.

The New Yorker

D will wait for hours upon hours for me to return home.

The New York Times

Lorries routinely wait for hours to cross at the busiest points on the Mexican border.

The Economist

He would wait for hours, as patient as a fisherman by a lake.

The New Yorker

You wait for hours to have some help, and there are many who are unemployed.

The Guardian - Film

Syria has been facing a fuel crisis, and people often wait for hours for petrol.

The Guardian

Others set limits on brands accepted and make redeemers wait for hours for their money.

The New York Times

Sometimes, I would wait for hours only to hear, "Oh, the doctor left".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wait for hours" to clearly convey a significant duration of waiting, emphasizing the length of the delay. For instance, "Due to the heavy traffic, commuters had to "wait for hours" to reach their destinations."

Common error

Avoid using "wait for hours" when the exact waiting time is known and relatively short. It's more precise to say "wait for 30 minutes" rather than exaggerating with "wait for hours" if the actual time is much less.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wait for hours" functions as a verb phrase, typically used within a clause to describe the act of waiting for an extended, unspecified duration. Ludwig examples demonstrate it commonly expresses inconvenience or anticipation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wait for hours" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a significant delay, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is widely used in news, business, and scientific contexts. The phrase implies a long and often frustrating waiting period. To improve clarity, avoid using it when a specific waiting time is known. Consider alternatives like "endure a lengthy wait" for varied expression. Ludwig examples show "wait for hours" usually expresses inconvenience or impatience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spend hours in waiting

Emphasizes the time spent in the act of waiting.

endure a lengthy wait

Emphasizes the act of enduring a wait that is long.

be kept waiting for a long time

Highlights that the waiting is imposed by someone or something else.

remain in anticipation for hours

Focuses on the state of anticipation during the waiting period.

hold on for hours

Conveys perseverance and continued expectation during the wait.

wait an eternity

Emphasizes the perceived endlessness of the wait.

anticipate for extended durations

Focuses on the mental act of anticipating over a long period.

tarry for several hours

Implies a deliberate, though perhaps unwanted, delay.

be on hold for a considerable period

Implies waiting on a phone call or other form of communication.

linger for a considerable time

Suggests a relaxed or aimless form of waiting.

FAQs

How can I use "wait for hours" in a sentence?

You can use "wait for hours" to describe a situation where someone is delayed for a long time, for example: "Passengers had to "wait for hours" due to the flight delay".

What are some alternatives to saying "wait for hours"?

You can use alternatives like "endure a lengthy wait", "spend hours in waiting", or "be kept waiting for a long time" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "waited for hours" instead of "wait for hours"?

Yes, "waited for hours" is the past tense of "wait for hours" and is grammatically correct when referring to a past event. For instance, "I waited for hours at the airport yesterday".

What's the difference between "wait for hours" and "wait a few hours"?

"Wait for hours" implies a general sense of a long waiting time, without specifying the exact duration. On the other hand, "wait a few hours" indicates a more specific time frame, suggesting the waiting period will be a couple of hours.