waiter

American  

[way-ter] / ˈweɪ tər /

noun

• waiters
  plural

1. a person, especially a man, who waits on tables, as in a restaurant.

2. a tray for carrying dishes, a tea service, etc.; salver.

3. a person who waits or awaits.

4. Obsolete. an attendant.

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verb (used without object)

1. to work or serve as a waiter.

   to waiter in a restaurant.

waiter British  

/ ˈweɪtə /

noun

1. a man whose occupation is to serve at table, as in a restaurant

2. an attendant at the London Stock Exchange or Lloyd's who carries messages: the modern equivalent of waiters who performed these duties in the 17th-century London coffee houses in which these institutions originated

3. a person who waits

4. a tray or salver on which dishes, etc, are carried

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Gender

See -person.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• waiterless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• waiters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of waiter

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at wait, -er ¹

Explanation

The person who brings your food in a restaurant is a waiter. If you discover an insect in your gazpacho, you might call out, "Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!" These days it's more common to call the cafe worker who takes your order and delivers your nachos a server, since it's entirely gender-neutral, but some people still use waiter for a man or woman and waitress for a woman. Your grandpa might enjoy embarrassing the whole family by hollering, "Check please, waiter!" at the end of every restaurant meal. Before this word became common for restaurant servers, it was used for household servants who "waited at table."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waiter waiters

A little later, the waiter and manager came to our table.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

Compare that to the mainland, where the robot waiter reaches me the way it’s built to: a viral clip and a “look how advanced we are” flex.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

A waiter at the Montecristo was also prosecuted, as was the owner of the agency which rents out the villa.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

I like the brunch place where a waiter knows I want blackberry jam with my Texas toast, and I know what his nieces have been reading lately.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

As the waiter and Frances discussed the menu, Anna May leaned toward me.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Lake Park Bistro — Lake Park Bistro has the kind of delightfully old-school French restaurant feel that starts at the grand entrance and continues with white tablecloths and waiters in spiffy uniforms.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

Many who crossed did so after abruptly quitting their jobs as waiters, labourers or fishermen.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

These include the people welcoming attendees into stadiums, VIP lounge chefs, waiters and the flagbearers during the opening ceremony.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

From time to time, waiters pushing trolleys roll past carrying sides of roast beef, to be carved at diners’ tables.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

Breathless with haste we filled the basket and I was back while the line of waiters still stretched before the hut.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

Related Words

• server
• waitperson
• waitress