waiting-room
Definition
- Noun:
- A "waiting-room" is a room in a public place (such as a train station, doctor's office, or airport) where people sit and wait until it is their turn or until a scheduled event begins.
Usage Examples
- (A room where people wait for medical appointments.)
- (A room for passengers to wait before boarding a train.)
Advanced Usage
"to be in the waiting-room": to be present in such a room, often implying patience or delay.
- She is in the waiting-room, reading a magazine. (She is waiting in that designated area.)
"a crowded waiting-room": a situation where many people are waiting, often suggesting inconvenience or discomfort.
- The airport waiting-room was crowded due to the flight delay. (Many people were waiting together.)
Variants and Related Words
- Waiting (adj/n): the act of staying in one place until something happens.
- The waiting period was very long. (The time spent waiting.)
- Room (n): a part of a building with walls, floor, and ceiling.
- There are many rooms in the hospital, including the waiting-room. (A separate enclosed space.)
Synonyms
- Lobby: a large room in a public building where people can wait or meet.
- Antechamber: a small room leading to a larger one, often used for waiting.
Related Idioms
To cool one's heels in the waiting-room: to wait for a long time, often impatiently.
- He was left cooling his heels in the waiting-room for two hours. (He was forced to wait a long time.)
A waiting-room of life: a metaphorical phrase describing a period of waiting or transition in one's life.
- After graduation, he felt like he was in a waiting-room, unsure of his next step. (A state of uncertainty before action.)