busboy

noun

bus·​boy ˈbəs-ˌbȯi How to pronounce busboy (audio)
: a waiter's assistant
specifically : one who removes dirty dishes and resets tables in a restaurant

Examples of busboy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
A little lady from Italy hired me as a busboy in 1985. — Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026 His entourage subdued Sirhan as a teenage busboy cradled the injured Kennedy. — Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026 The busboy, Oscar, fantasizes about slathering honey over Kelce's bared chest as he is tied to a pole, leaving him to be eaten by a bear. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 July 2026 Similarly, Jensen Huang spent his teenage years working at Denny’s as a dishwasher and busboy. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for busboy

Word History

Etymology

omnibus busboy

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of busboy was in 1901

Rhymes for busboy

See All Rhymes for busboy

Browse Nearby Words

bus bar
busboy
busby
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Busboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/busboy. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

busboy

noun
bus·​boy ˈbəs-ˌbȯi How to pronounce busboy (audio)
: a person employed in a restaurant to remove dirty dishes and set tables

More from Merriam-Webster on busboy

Nglish: Translation of busboy for Spanish Speakers

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