wait up
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To stay awake waiting for somebody to return.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Anyway, Dad waited up for them. It must have been about midnight when they came in.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Register: colloquial
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
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Common questions
What does “wait up” mean?
To stay awake waiting for somebody to return.
Is “wait up” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
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