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active waiting

[ˈæktɪv ˈweɪtɪŋ]
noun
espera ativa
1. A state of readiness or preparedness where one remains engaged and alert while awaiting something, rather than being passive or idle
During active waiting, employees stay prepared to respond to customer inquiries at any moment.
Durante a espera ativa, os funcionários permanecem preparados para responder às perguntas dos clientes a qualquer momento.
2. In medical or healthcare contexts, a period where a patient is monitored and ready for immediate intervention while waiting for a procedure or treatment
The patient was placed in active waiting before the surgery.
O paciente foi colocado em espera ativa antes da cirurgia.
3. In computing and programming, a process that continuously checks for a condition rather than being notified passively
The system uses active waiting to monitor for changes in the database.
O sistema usa espera ativa para monitorar mudanças no banco de dados.
Synonyms
vigilant waitingattentive waitingready statestandby mode
Antonyms
passive waitingidle waitingdormant state

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
espera ativa
Standard and widely used term in business and healthcare contexts
São Paulo
espera ativa
Common in corporate and technical environments
Portugal
espera ativa
Used in medical and technical terminology; may also see 'aguarda ativa' in some contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

stay on your toes
keep on standby
be ready and waiting
keep one's eyes peeled
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