diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/combo_box/async.js b/src-docs/src/views/combo_box/async.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..25cfa2ffc85b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/combo_box/async.js
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+import React, { Component } from 'react';
+
+import {
+  EuiComboBox,
+} from '../../../../src/components';
+
+const options = [{
+  value: 'titan',
+  label: 'Titan',
+  'data-test-subj': 'titanOption',
+}, {
+  value: 'enceladus',
+  label: 'Enceladus',
+}, {
+  value: 'mimas',
+  label: 'Mimas',
+}, {
+  value: 'dione',
+  label: 'Dione',
+}, {
+  value: 'iapetus',
+  label: 'Iapetus',
+}, {
+  value: 'phoebe',
+  label: 'Phoebe',
+}, {
+  value: 'rhea',
+  label: 'Rhea',
+}, {
+  value: 'pandora',
+  label: 'Pandora is one of Saturn\'s moons, named for a Titaness of Greek mythology',
+}, {
+  value: 'tethys',
+  label: 'Tethys',
+}, {
+  value: 'hyperion',
+  label: 'Hyperion',
+}];
+
+export default class extends Component {
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+
+    this.options = options.slice();
+
+    this.state = {
+      isLoading: false,
+      isPopoverOpen: false,
+      selectedOptions: [this.options[2], this.options[4]],
+    };
+  }
+
+  onChange = (selectedOptions) => {
+    this.setState({
+      selectedOptions,
+    });
+  };
+
+  onSearchChange = (searchValue) => {
+    this.options = [];
+
+    this.setState({
+      isLoading: true,
+    });
+
+    clearTimeout(this.searchTimeout);
+
+    this.searchTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
+      this.options = options.filter(option => option.label.toLowerCase().includes(searchValue.toLowerCase()));
+      this.setState({
+        isLoading: false,
+      });
+    }, 1200);
+  }
+
+  onCreateOption =(searchValue, flattenedOptions) => {
+    const normalizedSearchValue = searchValue.trim().toLowerCase();
+
+    if (!normalizedSearchValue) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const newOption = {
+      value: searchValue,
+      label: searchValue,
+    };
+
+    // Create the option if it doesn't exist.
+    if (flattenedOptions.findIndex(option =>
+      option.value.trim().toLowerCase() === normalizedSearchValue
+    ) === -1) {
+      // Simulate creating this option on the server.
+      options.push(newOption);
+      this.options.push(newOption);
+    }
+
+    // Select the option.
+    this.setState(prevState => ({
+      selectedOptions: prevState.selectedOptions.concat(newOption),
+    }));
+  };
+
+  render() {
+    const { selectedOptions, isLoading } = this.state;
+
+    return (
+      <EuiComboBox
+        async
+        options={this.options}
+        selectedOptions={selectedOptions}
+        isLoading={isLoading}
+        onChange={this.onChange}
+        onSearchChange={this.onSearchChange}
+        onCreateOption={this.onCreateOption}
+      />
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src-docs/src/views/combo_box/combo_box_example.js b/src-docs/src/views/combo_box/combo_box_example.js
index ac0f0b013d8a..3a143ac804a3 100644
--- a/src-docs/src/views/combo_box/combo_box_example.js
+++ b/src-docs/src/views/combo_box/combo_box_example.js
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ import DisallowCustomOptions from './disallow_custom_options';
 const disallowCustomOptionsSource = require('!!raw-loader!./disallow_custom_options');
 const disallowCustomOptionsHtml = renderToHtml(DisallowCustomOptions);
 
+import Async from './async';
+const asyncSource = require('!!raw-loader!./async');
+const asyncHtml = renderToHtml(Async);
+
 export const ComboBoxExample = {
   title: 'Combo Box',
   sections: [{
@@ -75,5 +79,22 @@ export const ComboBoxExample = {
     ),
     props: { EuiComboBox },
     demo: <DisallowCustomOptions />,
+  }, {
+    title: 'Async',
+    source: [{
+      type: GuideSectionTypes.JS,
+      code: asyncSource,
+    }, {
+      type: GuideSectionTypes.HTML,
+      code: asyncHtml,
+    }],
+    text: (
+      <p>
+        Use the <EuiCode>onSearchChange</EuiCode> code to handle searches asynchronously. Use the
+        <EuiCode>isLoading</EuiCode> prop to let the user know that something async is happening.
+      </p>
+    ),
+    props: { EuiComboBox },
+    demo: <Async />,
   }],
 };
diff --git a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box.js b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box.js
index 06cfbf4df104..ab38d6953a58 100644
--- a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box.js
+++ b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box.js
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import {
 export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
   static propTypes = {
     className: PropTypes.string,
+    isLoading: PropTypes.bool,
+    async: PropTypes.bool,
     options: PropTypes.array,
     selectedOptions: PropTypes.array,
     onChange: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
 
     const initialSearchValue = '';
     const { options, selectedOptions } = props;
-    const { matchingOptions, optionToGroupMap } = getMatchingOptions(options, selectedOptions, initialSearchValue);
+    const { matchingOptions, optionToGroupMap } = this.getMatchingOptions(options, selectedOptions, initialSearchValue);
 
     this.state = {
       searchValue: initialSearchValue,
@@ -59,6 +61,12 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
     this.searchInput = undefined;
   }
 
+  getMatchingOptions = (options, selectedOptions, searchValue) => {
+    // Assume the consumer has already filtered the options against the search value.
+    const isPreFiltered = this.props.async;
+    return getMatchingOptions(options, selectedOptions, searchValue, isPreFiltered);
+  };
+
   openList = () => {
     this.setState({
       isListOpen: true,
@@ -137,6 +145,10 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
     }
   };
 
+  clearSearchValue = () => {
+    this.onSearchChange('');
+  };
+
   removeLastOption = () => {
     if (this.hasActiveOption()) {
       return;
@@ -173,7 +185,7 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
     // Add new custom pill if this is custom input, even if it partially matches an option..
     if (!this.hasActiveOption() || this.doesSearchMatchOnlyOption()) {
       this.props.onCreateOption(this.state.searchValue, flattenOptionGroups(this.props.options));
-      this.setState({ searchValue: '' });
+      this.clearSearchValue();
     }
   };
 
@@ -186,7 +198,11 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
   };
 
   areAllOptionsSelected = () => {
-    const { options, selectedOptions } = this.props;
+    const { options, selectedOptions, async } = this.props;
+    // Assume if this is async then there could be infinite options.
+    if (async) {
+      return false;
+    }
     return flattenOptionGroups(options).length === selectedOptions.length;
   };
 
@@ -247,7 +263,7 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
     const { onChange, selectedOptions } = this.props;
     onChange(selectedOptions.concat(addedOption));
     this.clearActiveOption();
-    this.setState({ searchValue: '' });
+    this.clearSearchValue();
     this.searchInput.focus();
   };
 
@@ -285,12 +301,11 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
     });
   };
 
-  onSearchChange = (e) => {
+  onSearchChange = (searchValue) => {
     if (this.props.onSearchChange) {
-      this.props.onSearchChange();
+      this.props.onSearchChange(searchValue);
     }
-
-    this.setState({ searchValue: e.target.value })
+    this.setState({ searchValue });
   };
 
   comboBoxRef = node => {
@@ -335,7 +350,7 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
 
     // Calculate and cache the options which match the searchValue, because we use this information
     // in multiple places and it would be expensive to calculate repeatedly.
-    const { matchingOptions, optionToGroupMap } = getMatchingOptions(options, selectedOptions, nextState.searchValue);
+    const { matchingOptions, optionToGroupMap } = this.getMatchingOptions(options, selectedOptions, nextState.searchValue);
     this.matchingOptions = matchingOptions;
     this.optionToGroupMap = optionToGroupMap;
 
@@ -351,11 +366,13 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
   render() {
     const {
       className,
+      isLoading,
       options,
       selectedOptions,
-      onChange, // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
       onCreateOption,
+      onChange, // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
       onSearchChange, // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
+      async, // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
       ...rest
     } = this.props;
 
@@ -386,6 +403,7 @@ export class EuiComboBox extends Component {
         />
 
         <EuiComboBoxOptionsList
+          isLoading={isLoading}
           options={options}
           selectedOptions={selectedOptions}
           onCreateOption={onCreateOption}
diff --git a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_input.js b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_input.js
index f42b1940caee..546cf649df78 100644
--- a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_input.js
+++ b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_input/combo_box_input.js
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export const EuiComboBoxInput = ({
             style={{ fontSize: 14 }}
             className="euiComboBox__input"
             onFocus={onFocus}
-            onChange={onChange}
+            onChange={(e) => onChange(e.target.value)}
             value={value}
             ref={autoSizeInputRef}
             inputRef={inputRef}
diff --git a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_options_list/combo_box_options_list.js b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_options_list/combo_box_options_list.js
index 46f001b5974f..be06bdba3392 100644
--- a/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_options_list/combo_box_options_list.js
+++ b/src/components/combo_box/combo_box_options_list/combo_box_options_list.js
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@ import React from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 
 import { EuiCode } from '../../code';
+import { EuiFlexGroup, EuiFlexItem } from '../../flex';
 import { EuiHighlight } from '../../highlight';
 import { EuiPanel } from '../../panel';
 import { EuiText } from '../../text';
+import { EuiLoadingSpinner } from '../../loading';
 import { EuiComboBoxOption } from './combo_box_option';
 import { EuiComboBoxTitle } from './combo_box_title';
 
 export const EuiComboBoxOptionsList = ({
   options,
+  isLoading,
   selectedOptions,
   onCreateOption,
   searchValue,
@@ -23,30 +26,39 @@ export const EuiComboBoxOptionsList = ({
 }) => {
   let emptyStateContent;
 
-  if (!options.length) {
-    emptyStateContent = <p>There aren&rsquo;t any options available</p>;
-  } else if (areAllOptionsSelected) {
-    emptyStateContent = <p>You&rsquo;ve selected all available options</p>;
-  } else if (matchingOptions.length === 0) {
-    if (searchValue) {
-      if (onCreateOption) {
-        const selectedOptionForValue = getSelectedOptionForSearchValue(searchValue, selectedOptions);
-        if (selectedOptionForValue) {
-          // Disallow duplicate custom options.
-          emptyStateContent = (
-            <p><strong>{selectedOptionForValue.value}</strong> has already been added</p>
-          );
-        } else {
-          emptyStateContent = (
-            <p>Hit <EuiCode>ENTER</EuiCode> to add <strong>{searchValue}</strong> as a custom option</p>
-          );
-        }
+  if (isLoading) {
+    emptyStateContent = (
+      <EuiFlexGroup gutterSize="s" justifyContent="center">
+        <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
+          <EuiLoadingSpinner size="m" />
+        </EuiFlexItem>
+        <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
+          Loading options
+        </EuiFlexItem>
+      </EuiFlexGroup>
+    );
+  } else if (searchValue && matchingOptions.length === 0) {
+    if (onCreateOption) {
+      const selectedOptionForValue = getSelectedOptionForSearchValue(searchValue, selectedOptions);
+      if (selectedOptionForValue) {
+        // Disallow duplicate custom options.
+        emptyStateContent = (
+          <p><strong>{selectedOptionForValue.value}</strong> has already been added</p>
+        );
       } else {
         emptyStateContent = (
-          <p><strong>{searchValue}</strong> doesn&rsquo;t match any options</p>
+          <p>Hit <EuiCode>ENTER</EuiCode> to add <strong>{searchValue}</strong> as a custom option</p>
         );
       }
+    } else {
+      emptyStateContent = (
+        <p><strong>{searchValue}</strong> doesn&rsquo;t match any options</p>
+      );
     }
+  } else if (!options.length) {
+    emptyStateContent = <p>There aren&rsquo;t any options available</p>;
+  } else if (areAllOptionsSelected) {
+    emptyStateContent = <p>You&rsquo;ve selected all available options</p>;
   }
 
   const emptyState = emptyStateContent ? (
@@ -107,6 +119,7 @@ export const EuiComboBoxOptionsList = ({
 
 EuiComboBoxOptionsList.propTypes = {
   options: PropTypes.array,
+  isLoading: PropTypes.bool,
   selectedOptions: PropTypes.array,
   onCreateOption: PropTypes.func,
   searchValue: PropTypes.string,
diff --git a/src/components/combo_box/matching_options.js b/src/components/combo_box/matching_options.js
index 38e39cf32ed3..86bc46677dea 100644
--- a/src/components/combo_box/matching_options.js
+++ b/src/components/combo_box/matching_options.js
@@ -14,13 +14,19 @@ export const getSelectedOptionForSearchValue = (searchValue, selectedOptions) =>
   return selectedOptions.find(option => option.label.toLowerCase() === normalizedSearchValue);
 };
 
-const collectMatchingOption = (accumulator, option, selectedOptions, normalizedSearchValue) => {
+const collectMatchingOption = (accumulator, option, selectedOptions, normalizedSearchValue, isPreFiltered) => {
   // Only show options which haven't yet been selected.
   const selectedOption = getSelectedOptionForSearchValue(option.label, selectedOptions);
   if (selectedOption) {
     return false;
   }
 
+  // If the options have already been prefiltered then we can skip filtering against the search value.
+  if (isPreFiltered) {
+    accumulator.push(option);
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (!normalizedSearchValue) {
     accumulator.push(option);
     return;
@@ -32,7 +38,7 @@ const collectMatchingOption = (accumulator, option, selectedOptions, normalizedS
   }
 };
 
-export const getMatchingOptions = (options, selectedOptions, searchValue) => {
+export const getMatchingOptions = (options, selectedOptions, searchValue, isPreFiltered) => {
   const normalizedSearchValue = searchValue.trim().toLowerCase();
   const optionToGroupMap = new Map();
   const matchingOptions = [];
@@ -41,12 +47,11 @@ export const getMatchingOptions = (options, selectedOptions, searchValue) => {
     if (option.options) {
       option.options.forEach(groupOption => {
         optionToGroupMap.set(groupOption, option)
-        collectMatchingOption(matchingOptions, groupOption, selectedOptions, normalizedSearchValue);
+        collectMatchingOption(matchingOptions, groupOption, selectedOptions, normalizedSearchValue, isPreFiltered);
       })
     } else {
-      collectMatchingOption(matchingOptions, option, selectedOptions, normalizedSearchValue);
+      collectMatchingOption(matchingOptions, option, selectedOptions, normalizedSearchValue, isPreFiltered);
     }
   });
-
   return { optionToGroupMap, matchingOptions };
 };