valet
/ˈvæleɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [vælˈe] /ˈvæleɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [vælˈe] /ˈva-lət How to pronounce valet (audio) ˈva-(ˌ)lā How to pronounce valet (audio) va-ˈlā/ (ame, mw) · /ˈvæl.eɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [vælˈe] /ˈvæl.ɪt/ (ame, ipa)
valet — noun
- valetsingular
- valetsplural
1. an employee who takes customers' cars at the entrance of a hotel, restaurant, or
an employee who takes customers' cars at the entrance of a hotel, restaurant, or event, parks them elsewhere, and brings them back later.
A valet took Heloisa's keys and drove the car to the underground garage.
valet taking keys and parking the car
After dinner, Kabir showed the ticket stub to the valet outside the hotel.
The valet brought Christopher's SUV to the entrance before the rain started.
Guests waited beside the valet booth while staff fetched their cars from outside.
- attendant
broader term for a service worker; does not specifically imply parking cars
- parking attendant
close in meaning, but can also refer to someone watching or managing a parking lot
- chauffeur
drives a passenger as part of a journey, not just into and out of a parking area
用法筆記
Most often seen in the fixed expression valet parking or in references to a venue's car service. Unlike sense 3, this person handles vehicles rather than clothes.
2. in earlier times, a wealthy man often had a male attendant who cared for his clo
in earlier times, a wealthy man often had a male attendant who cared for his clothes, helped at meals, and stayed near him for daily service.
In the novel, the old valet laid out Lord Byron's coat before breakfast.
historical valet serving one employer
The valet packed Eitan's trunk, brushed his hat, and called for the carriage.
A quiet valet opened the study door when the guests arrived for tea.
The duke trusted his valet to keep private letters locked away.
- manservant
very close in meaning and strongly tied to older social settings
- servant
broader term for domestic service; less tied to one man's personal needs
- attendant
can describe someone staying near to help, but is less specifically domestic
用法筆記
This sense is historical and usually refers to one male employer of high social status. It suggests close personal service, not general housework.
3. a hotel worker whose job is to wash, press, or otherwise prepare guests' clothes
a hotel worker whose job is to wash, press, or otherwise prepare guests' clothes for them.
The valet returned Shirin's suit after pressing the jacket and trousers.
hotel valet handling guests' clothing
Beatrix asked the hotel valet whether her dress could be cleaned overnight.
At noon, the valet collected several shirts from rooms on the fifth floor.
The manager thanked the valet for removing a wine stain from Dario's coat.
- laundry attendant
close in meaning, but broader and not limited to hotel service
- hotel attendant
more general; could describe many kinds of hotel staff
用法筆記
Used in hotel contexts for clothing care. Unlike sense 1, this valet deals with garments rather than parking customers' vehicles.
valet — verb
- valetpresent simple I / you / we / they
- valets3rd person singular
- valeting-ing form
- valetedpast simple
1. to clean the inside, and often the outside, of a vehicle carefully as a paid ser
to clean the inside, and often the outside, of a vehicle carefully as a paid service.
Staff valeted the company van before the client tour on Monday morning.
valet + vehicle in a service context
The garage valets cars while customers shop in the next building.
A worker valeted the muddy jeep after the camping trip ended.
The service valeted our hatchback and removed sand from the seats.
文法句型
valet + vehicle
用法筆記
Most common in British English about car-cleaning services. The object is usually a car, van, or another vehicle rather than a room or piece of clothing.
常見錯誤
2. to act as someone's personal valet, staying near them and taking care of practic
to act as someone's personal valet, staying near them and taking care of practical daily needs.
For six years, Rachid valeted a retired general in Cairo.
valet + person in personal service
A young man valeted the prince during the summer hunting season.
The diary says Mizuki once valeted for a visiting diplomat's family.
Before opening his own shop, Christopher valeted for an elderly banker.
文法句型
valet + person
用法筆記
Rare and old-fashioned. It refers to serving a person in the role of a valet, not to cleaning an object as in sense 1.