English

Verb

wait on ‎(third-person singular simple present waits on, present participle waiting on, simple past and past participle waited on)

1. (colloquial) To wait for an event.

   I'm waiting on the light to change.

2. To wait for a person to do something.

   I'm waiting on you before we can leave.

3. To serve someone.

   Is someone waiting on you yet?

   • Shakespeare

     I must wait on myself, must I?

4. (archaic) To attend; to go to see; to visit on business or for ceremony.
5. (archaic) To follow, as a consequence; to await.
   • Dr. H. More

     that ruin that waits on such a supine temper

6. (archaic) To attend to; to perform.
   • Bible, Numbers iii. 10

     Aaron and his sons […] shall wait on their priest's office.

7. (falconry) To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung; said of a hawk.
8. Used other than as an idiom: see wait,‎ on.

   The airplane had to wait on the runway for a few minutes before it could take off.

Related terms

• wait
• wait on hand and foot

Translations