Await vs They will look for his coming

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Await

Top 3,000 (common)C1verb

They will look for his coming

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: They will look for his coming
 AwaitThey will look for his coming
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈweɪt/","/əˈweɪts/","/əˈweɪtɪd/","/əˈweɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈweɪt/","/əˈweɪts/","/əˈweɪtɪd/","/əˈweɪtɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //ðeɪ wɪl lʊk fɔː hɪz ˈkʌmɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ wɪl lʊk fɔr hɪz ˈkʌmɪŋ//
Meaningto wait for something or someoneThey will wait to see him arrive.
ExampleHe is in custody **awaiting trial**.They will look for his coming at the airport.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsanxiously, breathlessly, nervously, long awaitedlook for answers, look for opportunities, look for support
Antonymsdepart, continue, proceedignore, overlook
Common mistakesUsing 'await' without an object, e.g., 'I await.' should be 'I await your response.', 'Await for' is incorrect; 'await' does not take 'for'., Confusing with 'wait' which is more common in conversation.Confusing with 'look forward to' which indicates excitement., Using 'look for' with a place instead of a person., Forgetting to use future tense properly.
Usage notesUsed in formal contexts, often in writing. Not typical in casual speech. Don't confuse with 'wait for'—they are similar but 'await' is used without 'for'.Use in contexts where people are expecting someone. Avoid in very formal situations or when discussing something unrelated to arrival.

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Await
They will look for his coming

Frequently asked questions: Await vs They will look for his coming

What's the difference between Await and They will look for his coming?

Await: to wait for something or someone They will look for his coming: They will wait to see him arrive.

Which is more common: Await and They will look for his coming?

They will look for his coming is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Await: He is in custody **awaiting trial**. They will look for his coming: They will look for his coming at the airport.

Can I use Await and They will look for his coming interchangeably?

Not always. Await and They will look for his coming are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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