wait — ODE · Shobdo

wait /weɪt

▸ verb [no object]

1 stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event:

I rang the bell and waited

he did not wait for a reply

we're waiting for Allan to get back

I was told to wait outside until the office was open

[with infinitive] Ben stood on the street corner waiting to cross

[with object] I had to wait my turn to play.

▪ (wait for) stay where one is or delay action until (someone) arrives or is ready:

he sits on the corner waiting for Mary.

▪ be left until a later time before being dealt with:

we shall need a statement later, but that will have to wait.

▪ [with object] dated delay (a meal) until a person's arrival:

I told my parents not to wait supper.

▪ remain in readiness for a purpose:

he found the train waiting on the platform.

▪ (of a vehicle) be parked for a short time at the side of a road.

2 (cannot wait) used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen:

I can't wait to tell Nick what happened.

▸ noun

1 [in singular] a period of waiting:

we had a long wait.

2 (waits) archaic street singers of Christmas carols.

▪ historical official bands of musicians maintained by a city or town.

– PHRASES

in wait watching for an enemy or potential victim and preparing to attack them:

he decided to lie in wait for the thief.

wait and see /ˌweɪt (ə)n(d) ˈsiː

/
wait to find out what will happen before doing something:

we will have to wait and see what happens.

wait for it British English informal
do not act before the proper moment:

patrol—wait for it—halt!.

wait tables (also wait at tables, wait on tables) mainly North American English
serve food or drink to someone in a restaurant, cafe, bar, etc.:

I was waiting tables to try to pay for classes and rent

In my gap year, I worked behind bars and waited at tables.

you wait
used to convey a threat or promise:

you wait until your Dad gets in!.

– PHRASAL VERBS

wait on

1 (wait on someone) serve food or drink to someone in a restaurant, cafe, bar, etc.:

she was the waitress who usually waited on him at the cafe.

▪ US English serve a customer in a shop:

customers stood in line expecting to be waited on.

2 (wait on someone, wait upon someone) act as an attendant to someone:

a maid was appointed to wait on her.

▪ archaic pay someone a respectful visit:

a deputation had waited upon Lords Salisbury, Redesdale, and Roxburghe.

3 (wait on someone or something) mainly US English stay where one is or delay action until someone arrives or is ready, or until a particular time or event:

they will wait on a Supreme Court ruling

she was waiting on her boyfriend.

4 Australian and New Zealand English / Northern England informal refrain from doing something until something else happens:

wait on, I've an important message for you.

wait out (wait something out, wait out something) wait until a particular, typically unpleasant, event or period is over:

the weather was so severe he decided to anchor and wait out the storm.

wait up

1 not go to bed until someone arrives or something happens:

I'll be back late. Don't wait up for me.

2 North American English go more slowly or stop until someone catches up:

the kids bound out of sight, and I shout ‘Wait up!’.

– ORIGIN Middle English: from Old Northern French waitier, of Germanic origin; related to wake1. Early senses included ‘lie in wait (for’), ‘observe carefully’, and ‘be watchful’.