Wait vs. Await
I'm sure you've come across these two verbs before, haven't you? Well, If you don't know their differences, I'm here to tell you. Come on.
What Is Their Main Difference?
Both verbs indicate holding on and letting the time pass so that an event takes place. However, 'wait' can be both a noun and a verb, whereas, 'await' is always a verb and it is transitive. It is used in more formal writings/speeches.
Differences
'Wait' can function as both a noun and a verb, whereas, 'await' is mainly a verb. Look at the examples below:
Can't
It was a long
Here, it is a noun.
The manager
The suspect will be
Similarities
Both indicate holding on and letting time pass in order to achieve what you want. Take a look at the examples below:
I asked her to
We will gladly be
Are They Interchangeable?
Although they have similar meanings, they cannot be used interchangeably because 'await' is more formal than 'wait'. Compare:
✓ I have been waiting for you for nearly ten minutes.
X I have been awaiting you for nearly ten minutes.
This sentence is grammatically correct, but it is more formal than the first one.