were waiting
Estaban esperando a que se abriera el portón.
They were waiting for the gate to open.
Estaban esperando la señal para empezar.
They were waiting for the signal to begin.
Los estaban esperando en la puerta del restaurante desde las ocho.
They had been waiting for them at the restaurant door since eight o'clock.
¡Los otros ya nos estaban esperando!
The others were already waiting for us!
— Perros de Reserva (1992)
They were waiting for us.
Tom y María me estaban esperando.
Tom and Maria were waiting for me.
Cientos de personas estaban esperando afuera de la taquilla.
Hundreds of people were waiting outside the ticket booth.