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Definitions

lie in wait

VERB
bide
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dwell sit tight stick around
STRONG
abide attend await continue linger live remain reside stay tarry
WEAK
hang around hang in hang out hold the phone sweat it watch for
Antonyms
STRONG
carry on cease complete depart finish go halt leave move stop
WEAK
hurry
VERB
lurk
Synonyms
STRONGEST
creep crouch prowl skulk
STRONG
slide slink snake sneak snoop steal wait
WEAK
conceal oneself go furtively gumshoe stay hidden
Antonyms
WEAK
come out
VERB
sit tight
Synonyms
STRONGEST
stick around
WEAK
anticipate bide one's time cool it fill time hang around hang out hold on hold the phone keep your shirt on lie low linger mark time put on hold stall stand by stay put
VERB
skulk
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crouch prowl slink snoop
STRONG
avoid bypass creep dodge elude evade hide pussyfoot sidestep slack slip snake sneak steal tiptoe
WEAK
conceal oneself
Antonyms
STRONG
confront encounter face meet take on
VERB
surprise
Synonyms
STRONGEST
startle
STRONG
ambush bushwhack capture discover grab grasp nab seize take waylay
WEAK
burst in on catch in the act catch off-balance catch off-guard catch red-handed catch unawares come down on drop in on lay for spring on take by surprise
Antonyms
STRONG
free give let go liberate lose misunderstand offer release
WEAK
expect
VERB
wait
Synonyms
STRONGEST
await delay expect hang linger remain stand by stay stick around watch
STRONG
abide anticipate bide dally foresee stall tarry
WEAK
bide one's time cool it fill time hang around hang onto your hat hang out hold back hold everything hold on hold the phone hole up keep shirt on lie low look for look forward to mark time put on hold save it sit tight sit up for stay up for sweat it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance go hurry leave rush
STRONG
carry on move
WEAK
carry out do forge forward go ahead
VERB
waylay
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accost
STRONG
ambuscade assail attack box bushwhack catch jump lurk prowl skulk slink surprise
WEAK
hold up lay for pounce on set upon swoop down on
Antonyms
WEAK
allow forward

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The rewards, for better or worse, lie in wait for those who take a side.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

Scotland can only play one other European nation in the groups, so there is a fair chance Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador and Australia could lie in wait.

From BBC • Nov. 19, 2025

Not being able to lie in wait for your helper to enter the cell poses an important challenge to a satellite phage.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2023

Across Afghanistan, thousands of unexploded devices lie in wait, the U.N. de-mining agency says.

From Reuters • Jul. 7, 2022

“Life-forms never seen by the human eye lie in wait for a challenger.”

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman