wait out
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To stay safe or stay put and just wait until something bad or boring is over.
Literal meaning: To wait until something is 'out' (finished) — fairly transparent.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To remain somewhere and wait patiently until a difficult or unpleasant situation is over.
"They sheltered in a cave to wait out the thunderstorm."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To outlast an opponent or difficult period through patience, hoping the situation will improve.
"The union decided to wait out management rather than accept a reduced offer."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
The object is typically an unpleasant situation, bad weather, a crisis, or a delay. The tone is one of patience and endurance rather than active problem-solving. Used in both British and American English.
Commonly used with
storm delay crisis recession war bad weather
Forms
Base
wait out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
waits out
he/she/it
Past simple
waited out
yesterday
Past participle
waited out
have + pp
-ing form
waiting out
continuous
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Synonyms
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