wait on
Britishverb
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to serve at the table of
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to act as an attendant or servant to
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archaic to visit
interjection
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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]
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Make a formal call on, as in They waited on the ambassador . [c. 1500]
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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.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Gold prices remained under pressure and futures fell as investors wait on the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 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
Defenders wait on the ball, the two narrow holding midfielders are positioned nearby and the speed at which De Zerbi's side could speed up play is worked on.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 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
Ann responded, "You wait on me and I’ll pay."
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
