ждать

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *žьdati (“to wait, to await”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *g(e)id-, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeydʰ-. Compare Old High German gīt (“avarice”) and Old Prussian gēide (“they are waiting”).^[1]

• IPA^(key): [ʐdatʲ]

• Audio:

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• Audio:

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ждать • (ždatʹ) impf (perfective подожда́ть)

1. (transitive) to wait for (to stay where one is or delay action) [with genitive]

   Synonym: ожида́ть (ožidátʹ)

   ждать по́езда ― ždatʹ pójezda ― to wait for the train

   ждать свое́й о́череди ― ždatʹ svojéj óčeredi ― to wait [for] one's turn

2. (intransitive) to wait (to stay where one is or delay action)
   • 1955, Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 14, in Lolita:

     Решено́ Лолиту отпра́вить туда́ же в ближа́йший четве́рг. Вме́сто того́, что́бы ждать до ию́ля, как бы́ло наме́чен снача́ла.

     Rešenó Lolitu otprávitʹ tudá že v bližájšij četvérg. Vmésto tovó, štóby ždatʹ do ijúlja, kak býlo naméčen snačála.

     Lolita, it was decided, would be sent there on Thursday instead of waiting until July, as was initially planned.

3. (transitive) to wait for (to eagerly expect something) [with genitive]

   Synonym: ожида́ть (ožidátʹ)

   Она́ ждёт конца́ войны́.

   Oná ždjot koncá vojný.

   She's waiting for the war to end.

4. (transitive, intransitive) to expect, to wait (to believe that something will happen or count on something happening) [with genitive]

   Synonym: ожида́ть (ožidátʹ)

   ждать, что всё ула́дится ― ždatʹ, što vsjo uláditsja ― expect things to work out

   Я жду от него́ извине́ний.

   Ja ždu ot nevó izvinénij.

   I expect him to apologize.

   Не жди, я не позвоню́!

   Ne ždi, ja ne pozvonjú!

   Don't wait, I won't call!

5. (figurative, transitive, in third person only) to await (to be in store for, to be ready for) [with accusative]

   Synonym: ожида́ть (ožidátʹ)

   Их ждёт ги́бель.

   Ix ždjot gíbelʹ.

   Their doom awaits them.

   (literally, “Death awaits them.”)

• ожида́ние n (ožidánije)