waiter

noun

wait·​er ˈwā-tər 

1

: one that waits on another

especially : a person who waits tables (as in a restaurant)

2

: a tray on which something (such as a tea service) is carried : salver

Synonyms

• waitress
• server

Examples of waiter in a Sentence

waiters at that elegant restaurant must go through an extended training program before being allowed to serve customers

Recent Examples on the Web

The kitchen staff will place food items on a platter, which a robot waiter will roll to the correct table. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025

For the average guest, $17pp per day is charged to your shipboard account, to cover gratuities for headwaiters, waiters, bus staff and room stewards. —Debbi Kickham, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Lopez and the model-waiter were married for 11 months before finalizing their divorce in January 1998. —Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 24 Aug. 2025

My entire childhood was being the boss’s son and having all the Scottish and Irish waitresses and waiters, the Russian guy making fruit salads, the Hungarian guy who made the Jell-O molds and the Haitian guys in the kitchen busting my chops for being the boss’s son. —Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing waiter

• wine waiter

Rhymes for waiter

• cater
• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• greater
• hater
• krater
• later
• plater
• prater

Kids Definition

waiter

noun

wait·​er ˈwāt-ər 

: one that waits

especially : a person who waits tables (as in a restaurant)