Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [weyt on, awn]
- /weɪt ɒn, ɔn/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [weyt on, awn]
- /weɪt ɒn, ɔn/
Definitions of wait on words
- verb without object wait on to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until): to wait for the bus to arrive. 1
- verb without object wait on (of things) to be available or in readiness: A letter is waiting for you. 1
- verb without object wait on to remain neglected for a time: a matter that can wait. 1
- verb without object wait on to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed: We waited a week and then bought the house. Your vacation will have to wait until next month. 1
- verb without object wait on to look forward to eagerly: I'm just waiting for the day somebody knocks him down. 1
- verb with object wait on to continue as one is in expectation of; await: to wait one's turn at a telephone booth. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of wait on
First appearance:
before 1150 One of the 7% oldest English words
1150-1200; (v.) early Middle English waiten < Anglo-French waitier; Old French guaitier < Germanic; cognate with Old High German wahtēn to watch, derivative of wahta a watch (see wake1); (noun) late Middle English < AF derivative of waitier
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Wait on
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
wait on popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
wait on usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for wait on
verb wait on
- babysit — If you babysit for someone or babysit their children, you look after their children while they are out.
- care — If you care about something, you feel that it is important and are concerned about it.
- dish up — provide
- humored — a comic, absurd, or incongruous quality causing amusement: the humor of a situation.
- humoring — a comic, absurd, or incongruous quality causing amusement: the humor of a situation.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with w
- Words starting with wa
- Words starting with wai
- Words starting with wait
- Words starting with waito
- Words starting with waiton