1 A2 informal
To stay awake, especially at night, in order to wait for someone to return home.
"Don't wait up for me — I'll be home very late after the concert."
inseparable
wait up
A2 informal inseparable intransitive
To delay going to bed in order to wait for someone; or to ask someone to slow down or pause so you can catch up.
In plain English
To not go to sleep because you are waiting for someone to come home; or to shout 'slow down!' to someone walking away from you.
What does "wait up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 informal
Used as an exclamation to ask someone to stop or slow down so you can catch up with them.
"Wait up! You're walking too fast — I can't keep up with you."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To remain awake (up) while waiting — fairly transparent.
Actually means
To not go to sleep because you are waiting for someone to come home; or to shout 'slow down!' to someone walking away from you.
Usage tip
Used in two distinct contexts. The 'stay awake' sense is common in family settings ('Don't wait up for me'). The 'slow down' sense is used when calling to someone who is moving ahead of you. Both senses are common in British and American English.
Words that pair with "wait up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
me us late night please
How to conjugate "wait up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
wait up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
waits up
he/she/it
Past simple
waited up
yesterday
Past participle
waited up
have + pp
-ing form
waiting up
continuous
Hear "wait up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "wait up"
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