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

While Von Däniken managed to shrug off his many critics, the former hotel waiter had a troubled relationship with money throughout his life and frequently came close to financial ruin. —Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026

Before the show premiered and began to take over the cultural conversation, Williams and Storrie both worked as waiters while auditioning; Heated Rivalry has turned out to be a break bigger than either one of them anticipated. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026

Although a recent visit to Palo Alto’s Taverna was lackluster except for the awesome outdoor décor and cute waiters, its sister ship in Portola Valley is absolutely lovely, and the food more in line with expectation. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2026

Fresh fruit juices and local soy milk line up neatly along the walls like waiters. —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 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)