Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

wait on

/ˈweɪt ˌɑn/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.34 in modern English

Syllables: wait- on
IPA: /ˈweɪt ˌɑn/

9

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To provide a service to (someone); to act as a servant to (someone); to serve (someone) as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant.

verb

To wait for (a person).

Colloquial

verb

To wait for (a thing, or an event to take place).

Colloquial

verb

To be in store for (someone).

verb

To visit (someone) as a courtesy, on business or for ceremony.

Archaic

verb

To occur as a consequence of (something), to result from (something).

Archaic

verb

To carry out or perform (a duty, function, etc.).

Archaic

verb

To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung.

Example Sentences

"Is someone waiting on you yet?"
"How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I?"
"[…] for such a large house there are very few servants, because master has never lived here much; and when he does come, being a bachelor, he needs little waiting on:"
"“Run on, fellow. You can’t get waited on in here.” “I’ll stay right here until I do. I know my rights. […] I’ll get waited on all right, or sue the place.”"
"I'm waiting on you before we can leave."
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:"

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈweɪt ˌɑn/
British English: /ˈweɪt ˌɒn/

Usage

Inflected Forms

waits on (present, singular) waiting on (participle, present) waited on (participle, past) waited on (past) wait upon (alternative)

Phrases

wait on hand and foot wait on tables

Frequently Paired Words

wait wait on hand and foot wait on tables

Synonyms

attend to aid attend await bestand bestead dance attendance do do for serve service stay

Questions

How do you pronounce wait on?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈweɪt ˌɑn/.
What does wait on mean?: To provide a service to (someone); to act as a servant to (someone); to serve (someone) as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant.

How to pronounce wait on

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “wait on”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈweɪt ˌɑn/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “wait on”.
Repeat and practice — Say “wait on” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.