wait (w t)v. wait·ed, wait·ing, waits v.intr.1. a. To remain or rest in expectation: waiting for the guests to arrive. See Synonyms at stay1. b. To tarry until another catches up. 2. To remain or be in readiness: lunch waiting on the table. 3. To remain temporarily neglected, unattended to, or postponed: The trip will have to wait. 4. To work as a waiter or waitress. v.tr.1. To remain or stay in expectation of; await: wait one's turn. 2. Informal To delay (a meal or an event); postpone: They waited lunch for us. 3. To be a waiter or waitress at: wait tables. n.1. The act of waiting or the time spent waiting. 2. Chiefly British a. One of a group of musicians employed, usually by a city, to play in parades or public ceremonies. b. One of a group of musicians or carolers who perform in the streets at Christmastime. Phrasal Verbs: wait on/upon1. To serve the needs of; be in attendance on. 2. To make a formal call on; visit. 3. To follow as a result; depend on. 4. To await: They're waiting on my decision. wait out To delay until the termination of: wait out a war; waited out the miniskirt craze. wait up1. To postpone going to bed in anticipation of something or someone. 2. Informal To stop or pause so that another can catch up: Let's wait up for the stragglers.
[Middle English waiten, from Old North French waitier, to watch, of Germanic origin; see weg- in Indo-European roots.] |
wait up Verb
to delay going to bed in order to wait for someone or something: when he's late, she waits up for him