Waitmeans ‘stay in the same place or not do something until something elsehappens’. We can use it with or withoutfor:
Put a tea bag into the cup, then add water andwait(for) a minute or two before taking it out.
I phoned the head office but I had towait(for) five minutes before I spoke to anyone.
Wewaited(for) hours to get the tickets.
When we use a direct object afterwait, we have to usewait for:
Wait forus outside the cinema. We’ll be there at seven o’clock.
Not:Wait us…
Iwaited forthe postman every day last week hoping that your present would arrive.
Not:I waited the postman…
Waitwith theto-infinitive
Waitcan be followed by theto-infinitive:
All right, I’llwait tohearfrom you, Adam, then I’ll ring Simon.
By 9 pm there were about 20 people stillwaiting to vote.
Can’t wait
When we are very excited about something that is going to happen, we use the phrasecan’t wait for +noun phrase orcan’t wait + to-infinitive:
Ican’t wait fortonight. I’m having a party!(I’m really looking forward to tonight.)
Wecan’twait to goto Barcelona in June.(We’re really looking forward to going.)