Sometimes people rush you, and it can be difficult to find a polite way to calm them down and tell them to wait. This article has found the best synonyms and ways to ask someone to be patient politely, and we recommend you try a few next time!
Table of Contents
What Are The Best Ways To Politely Ask Someone To Be Patient?
There are a few great ways to ask someone to be patient in a polite manner. They include the following:
- Thank you for your patience
- I appreciate your patience so far
- You have been patient so far, and this should only take another minute
- Thank you for waiting
- I know your time is valuable, so please bear with me
- This should take just a while longer
- Please be patient

The preferred version is “thank you for your patience.” We use it to highlight someone as being “patient” for us directly while also saying “thank you” to show we appreciate that we’ve taken up a lot of their time, and we’re happy they haven’t argued with us yet.
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Thank you for your patience
Let’s start by looking at the preferred way of asking somebody to be patient.
“Thank you for your patience” works when we want to be appreciative of the patience someone is showing. It works especially well when they’ve been given opportunities before to complain to us but have so far chosen not to take them.
Of course, the longer a business deal or transaction takes, the more likely it is that someone is going to complain about it. If they haven’t complained yet, even after taking up a lot of their time, you should thank them for the patience they’re showing.
Sometimes, even when they’re not being patient, it’s good to use “thank you for your patience.” It works well to remind them that you’re doing everything you can in the situation, and you’d appreciate a little more time to work things through on your end.
We can see it used in the following ways:
- Dear sir,
- Thank you for your patience. This should only take another few minutes, and then you’ll be good to go!
- Yours faithfully,
- Mr. Danbridge
- Dear Mr. Parker
- Thank you for your patience. I know your time is valuable, and I’m doing everything I can to get to the bottom of this for you.
- Kind regards,
- Hubert Hum
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I appreciate your patience so far
“I appreciate your patience so far” is a good way to show that you’re happy that someone has been patient to a point. However, the inclusion of “so far” often means that you won’t be surprised if they stop being patient soon, which isn’t always a good strategy.
Using “so far” means that they’re likely to become impatient at some point in the future. While it’s a good phrase to use in many cases, some recipients will see that as a challenge or a way of you saying that their issue will take much longer than you anticipated to solve.
We might see this phrase used in the following ways:
- Dear Mr. Richards,
- I appreciate your patience so far, and I’m very close to finding the solution for you.
- Thank you again for waiting,
- Mario Bellini
- Dear Mrs. Storm,
- I appreciate your patience so far. I know this can’t be easy for you.
- Kind regards,
- Mr. Morrison
You have been patient so far, and this should only take another minute
We can use this phrase to tell someone that they’ve done well at remaining patient. We use the second part of the phrase to let them know that it shouldn’t be much longer before we’ve fixed the issue or done what they’ve asked of us.
On its own, “you have been patient so far” is not a good phrase to use. It seems standoffish, and many people will be offended by it.
However, adding the clause “and this should only take another minute” is a great way to turn it back around and show that you’re actively working to fix the issue the customer or employee might have had.
You could see the following email scripts work with this phrase:
- Dear Mr. Anderson,
- You have been patient so far, and this should only take another minute. I really appreciate your time.
- Kind regards,
- John Jackson
- Dear Mrs. Aubergine,
- You have been patient so far, and this should only take another minute.
- Yours sincerely,
- Harriet Edwards
Thank you for waiting
“Thank you for waiting” is a much less formal phrase, but it works well in many situations. It’s a common phrase native speakers use over the phone, which shows that it’s more appropriate in spoken English (and thus informal English).
Still, there are plenty of chances to use it formally in emails. If you want to thank someone for their patience, “thanks for waiting” or “thank you for waiting” is an appropriate way of doing so.
The slightest less formal phrase can work in the following ways:
- Dear sir,
- Thank you for waiting. I hope everything that I’ve delivered for you was up to scratch with your expectations.
- I look forward to doing business with you soon,
- Juliet Romero
- Dear Arnold,
- Thank you for waiting. I am glad we managed to find common ground to work with here.
- Kind regards,
- Romeo Caesar
I know your time is valuable, so please bear with me
We can use this phrase to show that we care about the person we’re talking to. Appreciating that someone has “valuable time” is a good step toward building a strong rapport with them. “Bear with me” encourages them to be slightly more patient while you continue to work.
It’s a good overall phrase that shows you value the customer or employee, while also allowing yourself slightly more time to get through the work.
You might see this phrase work in the following examples:
- Dear customer,
- I know your time is valuable, so please bear with me while I try and figure out what went wrong during the packing process.
- Thank you,
- Off Goods Co.
- Dear Master Chess,
- I know your time is valuable, so please bear with us. We’re sure to find the root of your problem in a matter of minutes.
- Thank you for your business,
- Tom Harding
This should take just a while longer
“This should take just a while longer” is a decent phrase, but we should be careful how we phrase the rest of the email or correspondence. Sometimes, it could seem a little lazy to write, and we need to make sure we still thank them in some manner afterward.
You’ll find that “this should take just a while longer” works when you’re imminently going to complete the task. If you say it without a confirmed deadline, you’re likely to annoy the person you’re speaking to more than they were in the first place.
You might see this one in the following situations:
- Dear Mrs. Snow,
- This should take just a while longer, and I appreciate you emailing me for an update about the situation.
- Kind regards,
- Harrison Forte
- Dear Maria Hill,
- This should take just a while longer, and then it will be as good as new. We’ll send you another update when it’s being packaged.
- Thank you,
- Dr. Jones
Please be patient
“Please be patient” is another way of saying it, but it’s the least polite form on this list. Some people believe it sounds demanding. However, if you word the email correctly, you can use it in appropriate and polite ways that will be useful to you.
“Please be patient” works well when we are working hard to complete the work. It works to show that we’re currently undergoing the work expected of us, but we’re not close to finishing it just yet.
Finally, while it’s not the most polite form, it still works if you phrase it correctly:
- Dear Ms. Darling,
- Please be patient while we try to source the error you’ve listed. We’re sure it won’t take long to figure it out.
- Thank you for your time,
- Mr. Davenport
- Dear Greg,
- Please be patient while I try to figure out this issue for you.
- Kind regards,
- Stewie Martin
What Does It Mean To Be Patient?
When someone is rushing us, it can put us on edge. It can also lead to a lot of pressure building up, which often makes us sloppy and rush our own work. It helps to be patient in these situations.
Being patient means that you’re politely waiting for something whilst expecting it to happen. Even if you expect that thing to happen quickly, patient people are often calm even when presented with obstacles that slow down the expected time.
Generally, people believe themselves to be patient in most scenarios. However, when presented with a situation where their expected event is pushed back (i.e., if a doctor’s office is overrun and behind), they might find that they’re not as patient as they wish they could be.
Impatient people often get very loud and aggressive because they find their time to be more valuable than everyone else’s. That’s why we put this article together to help you find calm and polite ways to get them to have a little more patience.
Martin Lassen
Martin is the founder of Grammarhow.com. With top grades in English and teaching experience at university level, he is on a mission to share all of his knowledge about the English language. Having written thousands of articles, he is an expert at explaining difficult topics in a simple language.
Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.
FAQs
How do you politely ask for patience? ›
Give them believable assurances that their problem is being handled as quickly and efficiently as possible and give them an estimate of when a solution will be available; and then make sure you meet or beat the estimate. "Thanks for your patience" is already considered a polite way to ask "Please be patient".
How do you tell someone to wait patiently? ›- hold on. phrasal verb. ...
- just wait until/till. phrase. ...
- hang on/hold on a minute. phrase. ...
- wait a minute/second. phrase. ...
- just a minute/moment/second. phrase. ...
- let me see/think. phrase. ...
- bear with me/us. phrasal verb. ...
- something will have to wait. phrase.
- Hang on a moment / a mo.
- Give us a second.
- Half a moment / a mo.
- I'll be right with you.
- Sorry, I'm a bit tied up right now.
- Wait and see.
- You'll just have to be patient.
- Give me a chance.
tolerate | endure |
---|---|
forbear | stand |
show forbearance | bear with |
put up with | make allowance for |
suffer | wait |
- 1 Use a call-to-action. ...
- 2 I'm eager to receive your feedback. ...
- 3 I appreciate your quick response. ...
- 4 Always happy to hear from you. ...
- 5 Keep me informed . . . ...
- 6 I await your immediate response. ...
- 7 Write soon!
be patient | bide your time |
---|---|
wait | hang on |
sit tight | await |
stand by | wait on |
lie in wait | hold on |
- alert.
- anticipative.
- anxious.
- apprehensive.
- awaiting.
- breathless.
- eager.
- expecting.
The correct way to say it is either “waiting for you” or “awaiting you.”
How do you ask for something without being pushy? ›- Show them what they want and need. Often, talking through a point gets lost. ...
- Share positives and negatives. Sharing an opposing viewpoint or two is more persuasive than sticking solely to your argument. ...
- Be inquisitive. ...
- Find a good reason. ...
- Be helpful.
- civilly,
- courteously,
- politely,
- respectfully,
- suppliantly.
What is a humble request? ›
a always used before a noun : given or said in a way that shows you do not think you are better than other people. a humble request. Please accept my humble apologies.
How do you ask someone to do something politely examples? ›- Could you call a taxi for me, please?
- Would you ask Rose whether she has signed the card, please?
- Would you mind collecting my suit from the dry cleaner's, please?
- Do you think you could come in ten minutes early tomorrow, before the presentation?
- Mum, can you wake me at seven o'clock?
looking forward to it | I await with great anticipation |
---|---|
I'm counting down the days | oooh can't wait |
1 await, linger, abide, delay.
How do you call a person who is patient? ›long-suffering, stoic. (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining.
Is it correct to say be patience? ›You can be patient, because patient is an adjective. You can have patience, because patience is a noun. You can be patience personified, but it's not very easy to achieve. You can't have patient.
What does it mean to be patient with someone? ›Having patience means being able to wait calmly in the face of frustration or adversity, so anywhere there is frustration or adversity—i.e., nearly everywhere—we have the opportunity to practice it.
How do you politely chase someone? ›- Have a compelling subject line. ...
- Be mindful of your tone. ...
- Keep it short and use simple language. ...
- Make a clear ask. ...
- Give them an out. ...
- Be judiciously persistent.
When sending a second follow-up email after no response, you must think about timing first. Wait three days before getting in touch again, and always send a fresh message. Last, include a call to action that shows your prospect what you want them to do next.
How do you say eagerly waiting? ›...
What is another word for eagerly await?
lick your lips | salivate |
---|---|
look forward to | lick one's chops |
anticipate with eagerness | hungrily await |
be unable to wait for | count the days until |
What is the meaning of eagerly waiting? ›
If you do something eagerly, you do it with much excitement and enthusiasm. When it's your turn to hit the piñata at a party, you might grab the bat eagerly because you can't wait to take a swing.
What do you call a thoughtful person? ›astute, attentive, careful, cautious, considerate, courteous, deliberate, discreet, friendly, gracious, helpful, polite, prudent, tactful, analytical, cerebral, earnest, melancholy, pensive, rational.
How do you wait for someone? ›Only after can a person commit. It's one thing to wait for a person who makes an honest effort for you, but quite another to wait for somebody who doesn't seem to care. Another thing to keep in mind is that waiting for someone allows to clear your mind and figure out if you yourself actually like that person.
What is another word for waiting excitedly? ›If you're expectant, you're waiting excitedly for something.
What is another word for wait and see? ›bide your time | wait |
---|---|
stay up for | hang fire |
lie in wait | stall |
abide | hold your fire |
pause | hold on |
Although "waiting for" is acceptable, "awaiting for" is not because "await" means "wait for". Writing "await for" would be redundant. When sending letters by mail, you likely want to be as formal as possible. "Kindly awaiting your approval" would fit this purpose.
Is it correct to say wait me? ›To the best of my knowledge, "wait me" is not used by the English speaking people. They use "wait for" something. Wait me is rather a translation from the French language:"Attendez- moi".
Can't wait to hear Meaning? ›to be very excited about something and eager to do or experience it: I can't wait to see you.
How do you remind someone without being rude? ›- Send an email to get the person's attention. ...
- Send a text message. ...
- Visit the person to get what you want or need from them. ...
- Refrain from being demanding. ...
- Ask them in a nice way. ...
- Ask them directly. ...
- Let people feel that they value. ...
- Make a respectful but direct request.
- Be direct but polite. ...
- Don't make it sound bad. ...
- Avoid guilt. ...
- Don't cross the line. ...
- Show respect. ...
- Avoid constant one-sided favors. ...
- Be personal but straightforward. ...
- Take "No" for an answer.
How do you push politely? ›
“I apologize for the urgency, but could you please [do X, send me Y, complete Z] at your soonest possible convenience?” This politely worded question communicates the same level of urgency as “ASAP” but in a far more considerate way.
What is a polite word for request? ›1 entreaty, supplication, prayer. 6 petition, supplicate. 8 entreat, beseech.
What is the single word for a person making humble request? ›...
What is another word for humble request?
suit | request |
---|---|
supplication | conjuration |
desire | imploration |
invocation | application |
asking | imprecation |
a smooth request. a modest request. It wasn't a gentle request but something closer to an eviction. 1.
What is a good sentence for humble? ›He is very humble about his achievements. She is too humble to let praise go to her head. Please accept my humble apologies. Her humble suggestion is that we review the data more carefully.
How do you say please consider my request? ›Please consider my request is the polite way of making this request. If you want to be rude or aggressive, you can say, “Consider it.” If you are not sure what the person's reaction will be, you can use “Would you please?” before your request. For example, “Would you please consider my request?”
How do you stay humble? ›- Admit you're not the best. ...
- Recognize your flaws. ...
- Be grateful, not boastful. ...
- Admit when you make a mistake. ...
- Don't brag. ...
- Be more considerate. ...
- Appreciate others. ...
- Learn to put others first.
Noun They made a request to begin work immediately. She filed a formal request for more information. At your request, I am enclosing a full refund of your payment. Troops were sent at the request of our allies.
Which words can be added to make requests more polite? ›Using the expression “Would you please…” is a very common expression to make requests. This expression is considered very polite. Let's look at some example sentences.
What are the different ways to ask how are you formally? ›- How are you doing?
- How have you been?
- How's everything?
- How's it going?
- How are things going?
- What's going on?
- What's new?
- What's up?
What's another way to say looking forward to? ›
Informal Ways of Saying “I Look Forward to Hearing From You”
I can't wait to hear from you. I'm excited to hear from you. Talk to you soon. Always happy to hear from you.
expect | anticipate |
---|---|
envisage | forecast |
predict | envision |
foresee | await |
contemplate | prophesy |
phrasal verb
pined for; pining for; pines for. : to feel very sad because one wants (something) or because one is not with (someone)
insatiable Definitions and Synonyms
adjective. UK /ɪnˈseɪʃəb(ə)l/ DEFINITIONS1. always wanting more and never feeling satisfied. The public seems to have an insatiable appetite for celebrity gossip.
Some common synonyms of want are covet, crave, desire, and wish. While all these words mean "to have a longing for," want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.
What do you say when you want something from someone? ›Any desire you have for an object, for a person, you can say, "I want something." So, for example, "I want a new pair of shoes. I want a puppy. I want a new house." "Want." We use "want" for desires. So, in this sentence, "I want a new pair of shoes."
How do you politely ask for understanding? ›- Admit you need clarification. Admitting you need more information makes the next step much easier for the person you ask. ...
- Don't blame the other person. Own your confusion. ...
- Summarize. ...
- Be specific.
-Could you wait a little longer please? -Could you be more patient please? -Could you continue to be patient please? Could you let me know they are common expressions?
Which is correct be patient or be patience? ›You can be patient, because patient is an adjective. You can have patience, because patience is a noun. You can be patience personified, but it's not very easy to achieve. You can't have patient.
What does it mean to have patience with me? ›the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed: You have to have such a lot of patience when you're dealing with kids.
How do you ask someone to do something politely examples? ›
- Could you call a taxi for me, please?
- Would you ask Rose whether she has signed the card, please?
- Would you mind collecting my suit from the dry cleaner's, please?
- Do you think you could come in ten minutes early tomorrow, before the presentation?
- Mum, can you wake me at seven o'clock?
When you ask someone to clarify something for you, it suggests that you are following what the person is saying and understand the majority or all of the key points, but you need more details on a certain point. Or perhaps the other person wasn't fully clear (it happens!) so they need to restate their idea another way.
What to say instead of I know how you feel? ›- “I hear you” This is a good way to acknowledge and receive another person's truth without projecting a bunch of assumptions and stealing the spotlight. ...
- “I can only imagine how that feels” ...
- “You're not alone”
- Have a compelling subject line. ...
- Be mindful of your tone. ...
- Keep it short and use simple language. ...
- Make a clear ask. ...
- Give them an out. ...
- Be judiciously persistent.
- Happy to help!
- I see what you mean.
- Thanks for reaching out.
- I totally understand.
- I'm not sure, let's find out.
- I know this must be frustrating.
- I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble with this!
- We're working on a solution for this.
How to Pronounce PATIENTS & PATIENCE - YouTube
How do you use patient in a sentence? ›She was tough but wonderful with her patients. He specialized in treatment of cancer patients. Please be patient–your cheque will arrive. He was endlessly kind and patient with children.
How do you describe someone who is a patient? ›long-suffering, stoic. (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining.
What is a good quote about patience? ›“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” “One minute of patience, ten years of peace.” “With love and patience, nothing is impossible.” “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”
Why is it important to be patient? ›Patience helps you to develop a healthy attitude.
Patience improves your ability to accept setbacks and enjoy life much more. There is a saying; “Good things come to those who wait.” Patience allows you to persevere and make more productive decisions, often leading to greater success.
Why is patience so important? ›
8 benefits of patience
You can better focus on your long-term goals and dreams. You can make more rational, realistic decisions. You develop persistence and resilience. You have a better time learning new skills.