waiting game

noun

wait·​ing game ˈwā-tiŋ- How to pronounce waiting game (audio)
: a strategy in which one or more participants withhold action temporarily in the hope of having a favorable opportunity for more effective action later

Examples of waiting game in a Sentence

Until they make their decision, we're just playing a waiting game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Amelia was upset when Lucas gave Dylan’s parents false hope amid the waiting game for her condition to improve. Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 9 May 2025 Success is not a waiting game; the difference between those who make it and those who don’t often comes down to sheer persistence. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 6 May 2025 Conan O’Brien’s preparation for his upcoming hosting gig at the 2025 Academy Awards has become something of a waiting game. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025 Regardless of the method, defrosting is a waiting game. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for waiting game

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waiting game was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Waiting game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waiting%20game. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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