wait/just a minute

idiom

informal
1
used to tell someone to wait or to stop for a brief time
"Aren't you finished yet?" "Just a minute. I'm almost done."
Wait a minute—I didn't hear you. Could you repeat what you said?
Wait just a minute, young man. Where do you think you're going?
2
used to express surprise or disbelief
Hey, wait a minute! That's not what you said yesterday!

Examples of wait/just a minute in a Sentence

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.
If the sellouts happened, maybe Major League Baseball says, ‘Hey, wait a minute! Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025 The video also showed Becerra leaning into the window of a passing car just a minute before he was shot. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The Jets left Rantanen, of all people, all alone just a minute into the third period, free to attack Hellebuyck from the right wing and into the slot. Murat Ates, New York Times, 17 May 2025 The news broke just a minute before his appearance in front of reporters. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for wait/just a minute

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Cite this Entry

“Wait/just a minute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wait%2Fjust%20a%20minute. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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