lying in wait

noun

The act of hiding and waiting for someone with the intent to kill or inflict serious bodily harm to them.

Similar
ambushambuscadetrap
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Meanings

nounlying in wait (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelawThe act of hiding and waiting for someone with the intent to kill or inflict serious bodily harm to them.
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of lie in wait

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise

Similar
ambushambuscadetrap
Broader
surprise attackcoup de main
Also see
ambuscadeambushtrap

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

lying in wait. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lying%20in%20wait

MLA

“lying in wait.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lying%20in%20wait. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lying in wait,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lying%20in%20wait.

Source: lying in wait on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.