wait on

Verb

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

1. To provide a service to (someone); to act as a servant to (someone); to serve (someone) as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
   • Is someone waiting on you yet?
   • How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I?c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...

   Synonyms:

   attend to, aid, attend, await, bestand, bestead, dance attendance, do, do for, serve

2. (colloquial) To wait for (a person).
   • I'm waiting on you before we can leave.
   • Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 27:14
3. (colloquial) To wait for (a thing, or an event to take place).
   • I'm waiting on the light to change.
   • […] a time was coming […] when his waiting on events should have its reward.1874, Thomas Hardy, “Oak's Advancement— A Great Hope”, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC, page 223
4. To be in store for (someone).
   • the destruction that waits on Monarchs, who consider fidelity to them as the most degrading of all vices1796, Edmund Burke, “Letter I. On the Overtures of Peace.”, in Two Letters Addressed to a Member of the Present Parliament on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France, London...
   • Their wages wouldn’t even get them out of debt to my grandmother, not to mention the staggering bill that waited on them at the white commissary downtown.1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 1, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, New York: Random House, pages 9–10

   Synonyms:

   await

5. (archaic) To visit (someone) as a courtesy, on business or for ceremony.
   • In the Evening our Commander sent a Message to Mr. Jones, that if a Visit would not be troublesome he would wait on him.1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 13, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, page 68
   • The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form.1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 42

   Synonyms:

   attend, call on

6. (archaic) To occur as a consequence of (something), to result from (something).
   • that ruine which waits upon such a supine temper1667, attributed to Richard Allestree, chapter 3, in The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety. […], London: […] R. Norton for T. Garthwait, […], →OCLC, page 49
   • For Blessings ever wait on virtuous Deeds;
     And tho’ a late, a sure Reward succeeds.1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act V, page 66
7. (archaic) To carry out or perform (a duty, function, etc.).
   • Aaron and his sons […] shall wait on their priest’s office:1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 3:10

   Synonyms:

   attend to

8. To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung.
9. (US, archaic, colloquial) To court (someone).
10. (archaic) To obey and pay attention to (someone); to follow (a leader); to attend to (someone); to be subject to (someone).