(1)等待(wait for (sth))[T+n](fml)：～sb's reply/sb's arrival/sb's decision/one's fate/one's allowance(eagerly/anxiously/with interest/with impatience/with trepidation)(热切/焦虑/关切/急切/惶恐地)等待某人的答复/某人的到来/某人的决定/自己的命运安排/得到津贴;～news/instructions/trial/the(announcement of the)result/the outcome(eagerly/anxiously/with interest/with impatience/with trepidation)(热切/焦虑/关切/急切/惶恐地)等待消息/指示/审判/(宣布)结果/结果;He has long～ed this day.他等待这天已很久了。〖同〗wait for，anticipate，expect;

(2)准备以待(be ready for;be in store for)[T+n](fml)：He found a taxi/ telegram/ note～ing him.他发现一辆出租车/一封电报/一张留条在等待着他。A surprise～ed her on her arrival at home.她一到家，意外的事情发生了。A warm welcome～s you/our customers.热烈欢迎你们/顾客们。No one knows what～s him in life.谁也不知道一生中会发生什么事情。A prize of ￡1000～s the first person to find the solution.一笔1000英镑的奖金等待着第一个找到解决办法的人。

【用法】await仅可用作vt(不可用作vi，也不跟介词)，用于(1)义时，表示“等待”事件、事变等，不可接表人宾语或有形的物体(如不可说：^*We are awaiting him/the train.);用于(2)义时则可接表人宾语。

【辨异】await与wait和expect都可表示“等待”。await为正式用语，仅用作vt;wait(等)则多用于口语，且多为vi，常接介词for，如：wait for sb's reply(等某人答复);await和wait皆可表示行为;而expect(期待，预料)则表示心理状态，如：I'm expecting him.(我在期待着他。)