wait on

British  

verb

1. to serve at the table of

2. to act as an attendant or servant to

3. archaic to visit

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interjection

1. stop! hold on!

wait on Idioms  

1. Also, wait upon . Serve, minister to, especially for personal needs or in a store or restaurant. For example, Guests at the Inn should not expect to be waited on—they can make their own beds and get their own breakfast . [Early 1500s]

2. Make a formal call on, as in They waited on the ambassador . [c. 1500]

3. Also, wait upon . Await, remain in readiness for, as in We're waiting on their decision to close the school . This usage, a synonym of wait for , dates from the late 1600s but in the mid-1800s began to be criticized by many authorities. However, by the late 1900s it had come into increasingly wider use and is again largely accepted.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wait on

Brackney, in a statement to the BBC, elaborated and said the department always treats any pending death case as a "potential homicide" so that crucial evidence is not lost as police wait on autopsy results.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Throughout the Rams’ wait on Donald, Turner said it has been “cool” to continue building culture and cohesiveness among the defensive front.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

I want it so nobody ever has to wait on line ever.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

In other words, the housing market is feeling the blow from rising mortgage rates, as buyers have found another reason to wait on the sidelines.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

“Go get him. I’ll wait on the phone.”

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

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