were waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

"were waiting" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe an action that was ongoing in the past. Example: They were waiting for the bus when it started to rain. Alternative expressions include "were anticipating" and "were expecting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Georgians were waiting, anxiously.

The New Yorker

The Taliban were waiting.

The New York Times

His babies were waiting.

The New Yorker

They were waiting.

The Washington Post

The masses were waiting downstairs.

The New Yorker

We were waiting for that.

The New Yorker

None were waiting for her.

The New York Times - Books

"You were waiting for him?

The New York Times

"We were waiting for hours.

The New York Times - Sports

People were waiting for us.

The New York Times - Magazine

The trainers were waiting.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were waiting" to describe a continuous action in the past, indicating that someone or something was in a state of anticipation or delay before another event occurred. For example, "They were waiting for the train when the announcement was made."

Common error

Avoid using "was waiting" when the subject is plural. "Was waiting" is for singular subjects only. The correct form for plural subjects is "were waiting". For example, use "They were waiting" instead of "They was waiting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were waiting" functions as the past continuous tense of the verb 'to wait'. It describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig examples show it used to describe states of anticipation, delay, or readiness before another event occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were waiting" is the correct past continuous tense for plural subjects, used to describe an action ongoing in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and "very common" in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While there are alternative phrases like "were anticipating" or "were expecting", "were waiting" effectively conveys a state of anticipation or delay. Remember to use it with plural subjects and avoid the common mistake of using "was waiting" in such cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were awaiting

A more formal and slightly archaic synonym for "were waiting".

had been awaiting

Emphasizes the duration of the wait and that the action is completed from the speaker's perspective.

were anticipating

Focuses on the expectation and preparation for something that is about to happen.

were expecting

Highlights the belief that something will occur, possibly with less active preparation.

had been expecting

Highlights the state of expectation, emphasizing a potential extended period.

had been anticipating

Similar to "were anticipating" but places more emphasis on the preparation prior to the moment of speaking.

were in expectation of

A more formal way to express anticipation, often used in official or literary contexts.

were standing by for

Suggests readiness and preparedness for an imminent event or instruction.

were prepared for

Implies readiness and anticipation of an event, focusing on the state of being ready.

were looking forward to

Expresses a positive anticipation and excitement about something that will happen.

FAQs

How do I use "were waiting" correctly in a sentence?

"Were waiting" is used to describe a continuous action in the past for plural subjects or with 'you', 'we', and 'they'. For example, "They "were waiting" for the concert to start" or "We "were waiting" for you."

What's the difference between "was waiting" and "were waiting"?

"Was waiting" is used with singular subjects (I, he, she, it), while ""were waiting"" is used with plural subjects (you, we, they). For example, "I was waiting" versus "We "were waiting"".

Can I use "were waiting" in the present tense?

No, ""were waiting"" is a past continuous tense. For the present continuous, use "are waiting".

What are some alternatives to ""were waiting"" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "were anticipating", "were expecting", or "were awaiting".