noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈweɪ.tɹɪs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:W EY1 T R AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A female attendant who serves customers in a restaurant, café, or similar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
a waitress in a cocktail bar.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To work as a waitress.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: action
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a woman waiter
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: waiter, server
Narrower terms: bunny, bunny girl
4
verb
Meaning 4
serve as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I'm waiting on tables at Maxim's
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wait
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: work
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English waiter Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-ih2der. Ancient Greek -ῐᾰ (-ĭă) Ancient Greek -ισσα (-issa)bor. Late Latin -issader. Old French -essebor. Middle English -esse English -ess English waitress From waiter + -ess.
Across languages
Translations
94 source translations are retained for this English entry.