Can you wait

If more than one person responds, all the others will have to get in line or ''on line,'' in New York. The use of on line is of course not restricted to this one small area on the Eastern seaboard, and numerous examples of wide-spread use may be found, going back to the early 20th century.

Old men and mothers give up the endless waiting on line for enough bread to keep body and soul together and prefer to suffer slow starvation rather than to be turned away empty-handed after hours of vigil. This request is made to avoid disappointment as well as for the comfort of not having to be crushed in a big crowd and waiting on line for a long time at the grounds. Standing or waiting in line remains very much more common than on line.

And while on line may account for but a small percentage of use outside of the New York region , it should not be considered as evidence of a lack of moral fiber, educational levels, or grammatical standards. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up. Usage Notes Do you wait 'on line' or 'in line'? Depends where you're from.

What to Know Waiting in line is much more common than waiting on line , which is a phrase largely local to the New York City region. More Words At Play. Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Oct. Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Nov. Time Traveler. Love words? Need even more definitions? Ask the Editors 'Everyday' vs. As , when or while? Been or gone? Begin or start? Beside or besides? Between or among? Born or borne? Bring , take and fetch Can , could or may? Classic or classical? Come or go?

Consider or regard? Consist , comprise or compose? Content or contents? Different from , different to or different than? Do or make? Down , downwards or downward? During or for? Each or every? East or eastern ; north or northern? Economic or economical? Efficient or effective?

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So that or in order that? Sometimes or sometime? Sound or noise? Speak or talk? Such or so? Towards or toward? Wake , wake up or awaken? Worth or worthwhile? Noun phrases: dependent words Noun phrases: order Noun phrases: uses Noun phrases: noun phrases and verbs Noun phrases: two noun phrases together. Pronouns: possessive my , mine , your , yours , etc.