wave

1 of 3

verb

ˈwāv 

waved; waving

intransitive verb

1

: to motion with the hands or with something held in them in signal or salute

2

: to float, play, or shake in an air current : move loosely to and fro : flutter

flags waving in the breeze

3

of water : to move in waves : heave

4

: to become moved or brandished to and fro

signs waved in the crowd

5

: to move before the wind with a wavelike motion

field of waving grain

6

: to follow a curving line or take a wavy form : undulate

transitive verb

1

: to swing (something) back and forth or up and down

2

: to impart a curving or undulating shape to

waved her hair

3

a

: to motion to (someone) to go in an indicated direction or to stop : signal

waved down a passing car

b

: to gesture with (the hand or an object) in greeting or farewell or in homage

c

: to dismiss or put out of mind : disregard

—usually used with aside or off

d

: to convey by waving

waved farewell

4

: brandish, flourish

waved a pistol menacingly

wave

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural waves

1

a

: a moving ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid (as of the sea)

b

chiefly literary : water, sea

… this our island in the wave …

—Charles Dickens

The buccaneer on the wave might relinquish his calling and become … a man of probity and piety on land …

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

The sea was open to them, and they achieved their victories on the briny wave.

—The Book of Commerce by Sea and Land

2

a

: a shape or outline having successive curves

b

: a waviness of the hair

c

: an undulating line or streak or a pattern formed by such lines

3

: something that swells and dies away: such as

a

: a surge of sensation or emotion

a wave of anger swept over her

b

: a movement sweeping large numbers in a common direction

waves of protest

c

: a peak or climax of activity or occurrence

a wave of spending

a second wave of infection

a crime wave

4

: a sweep of hand or arm or of some object held in the hand used as a signal or greeting

5

: a rolling or undulatory movement or one of a series of such movements passing along a surface or through the air

6

: a movement like that of an ocean wave: such as

a

: a surging movement of a group

a big new wave of women politicians

b

: one of a succession of influxes of people migrating into a region

c(1)

: a moving group of animals of one kind

(2)

: a sudden rapid increase in a population

d

: a line of attacking or advancing troops or airplanes

e

: a display of people in a large crowd (as at a sports event) successively rising, lifting their arms overhead, and quickly sitting so as to form a swell moving through the crowd

7

a

: a disturbance or variation that transfers energy progressively from point to point in a medium and that may take the form of an elastic deformation or of a variation of pressure, electric or magnetic intensity, electric potential, or temperature

b

: one complete cycle of such a disturbance

8

: a marked change in temperature : a period of hot or cold weather

9

: an undulating or jagged line constituting a graphic representation of an action

waveless

ˈwāv-ləs 

adjective

wavelessly adverb

wavelike

ˈwāv-ˌlīk 

adjective

Wave

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈwāv 

: a member of the women's component of the U.S. Navy formed during World War II and discontinued in the 1970s

Synonyms

Verb

• beckon
• flag
• gesture
• motion
• signal

Noun (1)

• billow
• surge
• swell

Choose the Right Synonym for wave

swing, wave, flourish, brandish, thrash mean to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down.

swing implies regular or uniform movement.

swing the rope back and forth

wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.

waving the flag

flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.

flourished the winning lottery ticket

brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.

brandishing a knife

thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.

an infant thrashing his arms about

Examples of wave in a Sentence

Verb

We waved to our friends through the window.

She was waving in the direction of the bridge.

Flags were waving in the breeze.

The magician waved his magic wand.

The leader of the parade waved a flag.

It was so hot that we were all waving our hands in front of our faces to cool off.

Noun (1)

The waves crashed onto the rocks.

She has a wave in her hair.

Waves of warm air washed over us.

We got a wave from the Queen.

The rabbit disappeared with a wave of the magician's wand.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Footage taken during the night shows crowds of people honking horns and waving flags in Umayyad Square, a landmark in the heart of the city. —Carol E. Lee, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024

On the wall at the rally hung a large banner with a photo of a smiling al-Assad, his hand waving to the crowd. —Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. 2024

Noun

During high tide or if there’s a swell, waves crash onto walkways, soaking passersby. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

From past red carpets and award shows to fashion-forward events, she’s rocked everything from fiery Botticelli-style waves to a sharp pixie. —Larry Stansbury, Essence, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wafian to wave with the hands; akin to Old English wæfan to clothe and perhaps to Old English wefan to weave

Noun (2)

Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (1)

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1942, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wave

• alpha wave
• beta wave
• body wave
• brain wave
• cold wave
• compressional wave
• crime wave
• delta wave
• electromagnetic wave
• finger wave
• gravitational wave
• gravity wave
• ground wave
• heat wave
• longitudinal wave
• new wave
• pressure wave
• P-wave
• radio wave
• ride a/the wave of
• shock wave
• sine wave
• sky wave
• slow-wave sleep
• sound wave
• square wave
• standing wave
• stationary wave
• surface wave
• S wave
• the Mexican wave
• the wave
• the wave of the future
• tidal wave
• transverse wave
• wave aside
• wave band
• wave down (a vehicle)
• wave equation
• wave front
• wave goodbye
• wave mechanics
• wave number
• wave of the future
• wave packet
• wave pool
• wave (someone) off
• wave (someone or something) through
• wave theory
• wave train

Kids Definition

wave

1 of 3 verb

ˈwāv 

waved; waving

1

: to float or shake in an air current : flutter

flags waving in the breeze

2

: to signal or salute with the hand or with something held in it

3

: brandish

waved a pistol and made threats

4

: to move before the wind with a wavelike motion

a field of waving grain

5

: to follow or cause to follow a curving line or take a wavy form

waved her hair

wave

2 of 3 noun

1

: a moving ridge on the surface of water

2

: a wavelike formation or shape

a wave in the hair

3

: the action or process of making wavy or curly

4

: a waving motion

a wave of the hand

5

: a steady flowing movement

a wave of color swept the speaker's face

6

: a sudden or rapid increase

a wave of buying

7

: a disturbance similar to a wave in water that transfers energy progressively from point to point

a light wave

8

: a period of hot or cold weather

wavelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

Wave

3 of 3 noun

ˈwāv 

: a woman serving in the navy before 1978

Medical Definition

wave

noun

ˈwāv 

1

a

: a disturbance or variation that transfers energy progressively from point to point in a medium and that may take the form of an elastic deformation or of a variation of pressure, electrical or magnetic intensity, electrical potential, or temperature

b

: one complete cycle of such a disturbance

2

: an undulating or jagged line constituting a graphic representation of an action

an electroencephalographic wave