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

All of that was on plenty of minds as the audience started on spring pea and burrata salad and waiters prepared to serve a main course starring prime chateaubriand and Maine lobster. —Calvin Woodward, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

The president was on stage, locked in conversation with CBS reporter Weijia Jiang; spread out in front of them were thousands of attendees, seated at more than 250 tables, as waiters cleared away their salads. —Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2026

Our waiter spoke with an unmistakable sense of pride, while my mom nodded along, absorbing it all in quiet attention. —Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026

Lopez worked as a waiter for years and saved enough cash to purchase a home. —Jake Shore, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 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)