waitress
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a woman who serves food and drinks to people at their tables in a restaurant.
n.a female attendant who serves customers in a restaurant, café, or similar establishment.
Simple“The waitress brought us some extra napkins and more water for the table.”
In context“The waitress managed the busy lunch rush with impressive efficiency, ensuring every table received their orders without delay.”
UsageWhile still common, many modern speakers prefer the gender-neutral term 'server' to avoid specifying the person's gender.
Teacher's tipIn modern English, 'waiter' is sometimes used for both men and women, but 'waitress' remains specific to women.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to work as a waitress in a restaurant.
v.to perform the duties of a waitress; to serve food and drink professionally.
Simple“She waitressed at a local diner during the summer to save money for college.”
In context“He recalled how his sister had waitressed throughout her university years to supplement her scholarship income.”
UsageThis verb is often used intransitively or with the preposition 'at'.
Synonymsservewait tables
From waiter + -ess.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.