wait around
Stay without purpose
To wait around is to remain somewhere with nothing particular to do, usually expecting something to happen or someone to arrive.
The phrase suggests idle time, often with a hint of impatience or wasted effort: I waited around for an hour, but she never showed up.
Don't just wait around—make yourself useful.
- hold offDelay or resist
- lingerStay beyond necessity
- hang aboutRemain somewhere casually
- delayEnforced waiting period
- tarryDelay one's leaving
dawdle · loiter · hang on · restless · procrastinate · remain · bide · bide your time · bored · idle · mark time · kill time · waste time · twiddle thumbs · impatient · stay · resigned · anxious
action vs. inaction
wait aroundtake action
Begin doing something
get to work · get busy · get moving · spring into action · do something
wait, around, waits, waited, waiting, waiter, waiters, waitress, waitresses