wait up

wait  (wt)

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/upon

1. 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 up

1. 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.

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[Middle English waiten, from Old North French waitier, to watch, of Germanic origin; see weg- in Indo-European roots.]

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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