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 of waiter

• 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 San Diego Union reported that the 34-year-old waiter at Little America Westgate Hotel had been badly beaten and stabbed multiple times. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

Our waiter brought a generous tray of olives and celery sticks to the table and then disappeared for a long while. —Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026

Lawry’s generous $69 Dine LA menu is available for Sunday brunch or dinner and centers on the classic Lawry’s experience, beginning with the famous original spinning bowl salad, prepared tableside with a signature bit of showmanship from the waiter. —Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026

Ayers marked the evening by sharing a video on her Instagram Stories of a waiter cutting a burger in half while her boyfriend smiled in the background across the table. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026

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)