Distinguishing Expect & Wait

Expect and Wait are two verbs used in the English language that need to be understood with distinction. Although these two verbs may appear similar in meaning, there is a difference in their usage.

The verb ‘wait’ is used to express delay or time passing. For example:
1. Wait a minute.
2. Yesterday I had to wait one hour for the train to arrive at the railway station.

In both of the above sentences, the verb ‘wait’ suggests a delay.

On the other hand, the verb ‘expect’ is used when there is no idea of delay or something happening in advance. Instead, it only suggests that something is going to happen. Consider the following examples:
1. He is expecting good news regarding his mother’s health.
2. I’ll expect you at exactly five o’clock.

Key Takeaways

• The verb ‘wait’ is used to express delay or time passing, while ‘expect’ is used when there is no idea of delay or something happening in advance.
• Sometimes the verb ‘expect’ is used to suggest ‘imagine’, as in the sentence “I expect you are angry with your neighbor.”
• The verb ‘wait’ is used to convey the idea that somebody is too early or something is very late in its happening, and can also suggest impatience on the part of the person.