waitress
gb/wˈeɪtɹəs/ us/wˈeɪtɹəs/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
role
1
woman who serves food and drinks
a woman who brings food and drinks to customers in a restaurant
Usage pattern:
a waitress; the waitress; waitress at [place]
Common mistake:
Some learners use waitress for any server; in modern English, server is often used as a gender-neutral alternative.
Synonyms
server (Common gender-neutral term, especially in North American English.)
|
waiter (Traditionally male; sometimes used generically, but can sound less inclusive.)
Antonyms
customer (The person being served rather than the person serving.)
|
diner (A person eating at a restaurant, not working there.)
Collocations
a restaurant waitress
|a café waitress
|a diner waitress
|a friendly waitress
|call the waitress
|ask the waitress
|tip the waitress
|work as a waitress
|a waitress job
|a waitress shift
Themes
food_and_drink
|work
|service
|daily_life
Examples
- Our waitress brought the drinks right away.
- She works as a waitress at a small Italian restaurant.
- We asked the waitress for the check.
Learner examples
- The waitress takes our order.
- I want to be a waitress.
Grammar
Dictionary form
waitress
IPA
GB/wˈeɪtɹəs/
US/wˈeɪtɹəs/
Syllables & stress
wait - ress (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (wait)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: waitress
- Plural: waitresses
Expressions
cocktail waitress
1/kˈɑktˌeɪl wˈeɪtɹəs/
fixed phrase
waitress who serves alcoholic drinks
a waitress who brings drinks in a bar or casino
Examples
- A cocktail waitress came by and asked if we wanted another round.
- He met her while she was working as a cocktail waitress in a casino.