Dictionary

wait on en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈweɪt ˌɑn/ (General-American)
• /ˈweɪt ˌɒn/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Meanings

1. To provide a service to (someone); to act as a servant to (someone); to serve (someone) as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
   • How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I? c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
   • “Run on, fellow. You can’t get waited on in here.” “I’ll stay right here until I do. I know my rights. […] I’ll get waited on all right, or sue the place.” 1942, Zora Neale Hurston, chapter 9, in Dust Tracks on a Road, New York: Arno Press, published 1969, page 171:
   • […] for such a large house there are very few servants, because master has never lived here much; and when he does come, being a bachelor, he needs little waiting on: 1847 October 16, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter I, in Jane Eyre. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], →OCLC, page 6:
   • Is someone waiting on you yet?
2. (colloquial) To wait for (a person).
   • I'm not waiting on a lady / I'm just waiting on a friend 1981, Jagger/Richards, “Waiting On A Friend”, in Tattoo You, performed by The Rolling Stones:
   • Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 27:14:
   • I'm waiting on you before we can leave.
   • Be pleased to write to me by Rogers; who will wait on you for your answer, at your own time. 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXVI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume VI, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 89:
3. (colloquial) To wait for (a thing, or an event to take place).
   • It was as though they [the gulls] waited upon some signal; as though some decision had yet to be given. 1952, Daphne Du Maurier, “The Birds”, in Stories of Suspense, New York: Scholastic Book Services, published 1972, page 17:
   • […] with grass mats over their heads and the raindrops puddling in their footprints, [they] waited on the weather. 1900 December – 1901 October, Rudyard Kipling, chapter XIII, in Kim, London: Macmillan and Co., published 1901, →OCLC, page 340:
   • […] a time was coming […] when his waiting on events should have its reward. 1874, Thomas Hardy, “Oak's Advancement— A Great Hope”, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC, page 223:
   • I'm waiting on the light to change.
4. To be in store for (someone).
   • Their wages wouldn’t even get them out of debt to my grandmother, not to mention the staggering bill that waited on them at the white commissary downtown. 1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 1, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, New York: Random House, pages 9–10:
   • the destruction that waits on Monarchs, who consider fidelity to them as the most degrading of all vices 1796, Edmund Burke, “Letter I. On the Overtures of Peace.”, in Two Letters Addressed to a Member of the Present Parliament on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France, London: […] F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […], published 20 October 1796, →OCLC, page 62:
5. (archaic) To visit (someone) as a courtesy, on business or for ceremony.
   • The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form. 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 42:
   • In the Evening our Commander sent a Message to Mr. Jones, that if a Visit would not be troublesome he would wait on him. 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 13, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, page 68:
   • […] I went, as my custom was, into one of the best railroad carriages on the road. […] I was soon waited upon by the conductor, and ordered out; 1855, Frederick Douglass, chapter 25, in My Bondage and My Freedom. […], New York; Auburn, N.Y.: Miller, Orton & Mulligan […], →OCLC, part II (Life as a Freeman), page 399:
   • Lest [my resolve] should break down, I took a stiff dose of whisky and waited on the Governor early. 1937, Robert Byron, The Road to Oxiana, New York: Oxford University Press, published 1982, Part 3, p. 114:
6. (archaic) To occur as a consequence of (something), to result from (something).
   • What is the worst of woes that wait on age? 1812–1818, Lord Byron, “(please specify |canto=I to IV)”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. , London: John Murray,, stanza 98, page 118:
   • For Blessings ever wait on virtuous Deeds; And tho’ a late, a sure Reward succeeds. 1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act V, page 66:
   • that ruine which waits upon such a supine temper 1667, attributed to Richard Allestree, chapter 3, in The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety. […], London: […] R. Norton for T. Garthwait, […], →OCLC, page 49:
7. (archaic) To carry out or perform (a duty, function, etc.).
   • Aaron and his sons […] shall wait on their priest’s office: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 3:10:
8. (of a hawk) To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung.
9. (US, archaic, colloquial) To court (someone).
10. (archaic) To obey and pay attention to (someone); to follow (a leader); to attend to (someone); to be subject to (someone).

Forms

Relateds

wait on tables · wait · wait on hand and foot

Synonyms

attend to · aid · attend to · tend · bestand · await · wait upon · await · wait on · attend · do for · dance attendance · call on · bestead · service · attend to · do · stay · attend · wait · serve

Translations (38)

uk чека́ти (wait for an event) · uk служи́ти (provide a service) · hu felszolgál (provide a service) · hu kiszolgál (provide a service) · sv vänta på (wait for an event) · fr attendre (wait for a person to do something) · la appāreō (provide a service) · pl obsłużyć (provide a service) · cmn 侍候 (provide a service) · uk очікувати (wait for a person to do something) · la ministrō (provide a service) · fi palvella (provide a service) · pl obsługiwać (provide a service) · ru обслужи́ть (provide a service) · es atender (provide a service) · uk чека́ти (wait for a person to do something) · cmn 伺候 (provide a service) · fr attendre (wait for an event) · uk обслуго́вувати (provide a service) · fi odottaa (wait for a person to do something) · pl czekać na (wait for an event) · uk прислуговувати (provide a service) · ru обслу́живать (provide a service) · is þjóna til borðs (provide a service) · pl czekać na (wait for a person to do something) · fi odottaa (wait for an event) · ru прислу́живать (provide a service) · is þjóna (provide a service) · ru служи́ть (provide a service) · uk очікувати (wait for an event) · cmn 服侍 (provide a service) · is bíða eftir (wait for a person to do something) · is bíða eftir (wait for an event) · fr servir (provide a service) · pl kelnerować (provide a service) · fi tarjoilla (provide a service) · cmn 侍奉 (provide a service) · uk обслужи́ти (provide a service)