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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
That waiting game has only intensified with a potential interest rate cut in sight. Melissa Repko, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2024 But after fans and media took notice, the release date was swiftly removed from the site, leading the Internet to speculate that the waiting game would continue. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Aug. 2024 In the waiting game with you, Remy My Walking, Talking PR Nightmare Dear Remy, My life is a misery. Remy Blumenfeld, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Aug. 2024 Once the isotopes were prepared and the cyclotron was running, the process became a waiting game. Max Springer, Scientific American, 24 July 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near waiting game

Cite this Entry

“Waiting game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waiting%20game. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!