# waiter

/ˈweɪtɝ/ (US) · /wˈeɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/waiter
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. restaurant server

noun · CEFR A1

a person who works in a restaurant, takes your order, and brings your food.

For teachers: a person employed to serve customers at their tables in a restaurant or café.

- The waiter recommended the grilled fish and brought us some water.
- The waiter navigated the crowded dining room with impressive agility, balancing three heavy plates on one arm while reciting the evening specials.

### 2. person waiting

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

someone who is waiting for a person, a bus, or an event to happen.

For teachers: a person who waits for someone or something.

- The long-distance bus was late, leaving many tired waiters at the station.
- The platform was crowded with anxious waiters, all peering down the tracks for any sign of the delayed express train.

### 3. to work as a waiter

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to do the job of a waiter in a restaurant.

For teachers: to perform the duties of a waiter; to serve tables.

- He is waiter-ing at a local bistro to save money for university.
- She spent her summer waiter-ing at a high-end resort, earning enough in tips to cover her entire semester of tuition.

Usage: Often used in the progressive form to describe a current job.

## Examples

- The waiter brings us the menu.
- We asked the waiter for some extra napkins and another bottle of water for the table.
- A professional waiter must balance efficiency with a polite manner, ensuring that every guest feels attended to without feeling rushed through their meal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.