# await

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈweɪt/ · frequency rank #12,374

## Definitions
1. To wait for.
2. To expect.
3. To be in store for; to be ready or in waiting for.
4. To serve or attend; to wait on, wait upon.
5. To watch, observe.
6. To wait; to stay in waiting.

## Etymology
From Middle English awaiten, from Old Northern French awaitier (“to lie in wait for, watch, observe”), originally especially with a hostile sense; itself from a- (“to”) + waitier (“to watch”). More at English wait.

## Easily confused with
- **away** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-away)
- **award** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-award)
- **aware** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-aware)
- **awake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-awake)
- **awash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-awash)
- **aways** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-aways)
- **awaits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-awaits)
- **awaited** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/await-vs-awaited)
- **awa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/awa-vs-await)
- **ait** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ait-vs-await)
- **amit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/amit-vs-await)
- **Ajit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ajit-vs-await)
- **again** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-await)
- **apart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/apart-vs-await)
- **admit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/admit-vs-await)
- **audit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/audit-vs-await)
- **adapt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adapt-vs-await)
- **avail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avail-vs-await)
- **avant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avant-vs-await)
- **Alain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alain-vs-await)

## Common misspellings (6)
`aawit`, `awaitt`, `awati`, `awiat`, `awwait`, `waait`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/await