Wait On

In Southern and Appalachian speech, wait on means to wait for the arrival or action of someone or something. It reflects a regional shift in preposition choice compared to Standard English.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: wait for, expect, await

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You'll hear 'waitin’ on' instead of 'waitin' for' down here - it's a common one.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You'll hear 'waitin’ on' instead of 'waitin' for' down here - it's a common one.

Pronunciation

[WAYT on]
/weɪt ɑn/

Meaning & Usage

- To wait for someone or something to arrive or happen (verb phrase)

Pawpaw:

We waited on ’em nearly two hours.

Nana:

Well they never did show.

variations: waiting on, waitin’ on

★ If you hear "I’m waitin’ on you," they ain’t talkin’ about bein’ your waiter - they’re wonderin’ why you ain’t already in the truck. ★

Origin and Etymology

While wait on is attested in general English with other meanings (like providing service), the sense of "wait for" has become strongly associated with Southern and Midland American dialects, including Appalachian English. It likely arose from natural variation in preposition use preserved in regional speech patterns.

Usage Notes

Wait on in this sense is common in informal Southern and Appalachian conversation but is often corrected in formal writing as "wait for." The construction remains widespread in the region because it feels efficient and natural in spoken dialogue.

wait on - "We’re waitin’ on the rain to stop."
waitin’ on - dropped "g" version in relaxed conversation
Standard English equivalent: wait for

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "wait on" wrong?

Not in Southern and Appalachian English - it’s common and natural in speech, though often avoided in formal writing.

Does it ever mean "serve," like a waiter?

Yes, that’s a separate meaning - context tells which sense is meant.

Is it used outside the South?

Sometimes, but it’s far more frequent in the South and Appalachia when meaning "wait for."

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 29). Wait On. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/wait-on
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Wait On." HillbillySlang.com, 29 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/wait-on.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Wait On." HillbillySlang.com. October 29, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/wait-on.