Phrasal verb
wait up
Meanings
to stay awake and not go to bed because you are expecting someone or something
to ask someone to stop and wait for you to catch up
Definition
To wait up means to stay awake and not go to bed until someone arrives or something happens.
If you wait up, you choose to stay awake, usually late at night, because you are expecting someone or something. It often shows concern, care, or a desire to talk when the person gets home. People commonly use it with “for” to say who they are waiting for.
Examples
- I’ll wait up for you, so text me when you’re close.
- She waited up until her brother got home.
- They waited up to hear the flight had landed safely.
- We told Dad not to wait up, but he did anyway.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse “wait up” (stay awake) with “wake up” (stop sleeping).
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.