What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
waiting
Example
I'm waiting for my friend to arrive at the train station. [waiting: present participle]
Example
The doctor's office had a long waiting time before I could be seen. [waiting: noun]
holdup
Example
There was a holdup on the highway due to a car accident. [holdup: noun]
Example
I was held up at the airport security checkpoint due to a problem with my luggage. [held up: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Waiting is more commonly used than holdup in everyday language. Waiting is a common experience that everyone goes through, while holdup is less common and often used in specific situations such as traffic, travel, or crime.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between waiting and holdup?
Both waiting and holdup are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
