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to wave

to wave

64 1.0
To move with a smooth up and down motion, like a flag or the sea
  • verb
  • /weɪv/
translation icon : ondear
  • She waved her hand enthusiastically to get his attention.

Examples

  • There's still time to turn around, I think, but Laurel is already waving and smiling at someone.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The boy stepped into the rain and waved to her as the bus departed.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • My father got out, waved up to the window, and started to come up.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • They've earned the right to march into that stadium and wave their nation's flag.

  • A man wearing a large black bull's head danced toward me, waving his horns from side to side.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • An old-fashioned lawn sprinkler lazily waves water back and forth over the freshly cut grass.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • During the parade, the crowd waved brightly colored flags.

  • As the ship departed, the passengers waved goodbye from the deck.

Synonyms

to roll
vsto wave
1.0

To move across the sky or land with a smooth swaying motion

is about rising and falling rather than full circular turning
to flap
vsto wave
54 1.4

To move up and down quickly, like wings or flags

is slower and smoother showing flowing rises and falls rather than quick beats
to ripple
vsto wave
49 2.7

To move in small waves on water when wind blows

describes rising and falling motion regardless of size or intensity
to stream
vsto wave
18 3.4

To trail out in a long, flowing way behind something

is focused on rising and falling motion rather than long outward flow
to heave
vsto wave
13 5.3

To rise and fall in a regular way like waves

is the basic rising and falling motion without the emphasis on big swells
to waver
vsto wave
12 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

is steadier and specifically shows rising and falling or flowing motion
to undulate
vsto wave
10 7.7

To move in smooth waves like tall grass in the wind

is broader and can describe less smooth or irregular rising and falling motion
billowing
vsto wave
5.8

Full of large rounded shapes that move outward, like cloth, smoke, or clouds

is the common rising and falling motion without large swollen surges

Idioms

4 5.8

Make something happen quickly and without effort

4 4.0

To stop trying and accept that you lost

To use a current trend or chance while it lasts to get advantage

to catch a wave
  • Informal
6.9

To use a rising trend or new interest to grow quickly

4.5

At the highest point of success or popularity for someone

To suddenly feel a very strong emotion that you cannot control

To gain from a sudden rise in public interest

Phrasal Verbs

42 1.0

Raise your hand and move it to get someone's attention

Move your hand back and forth to show you are saying goodbye

To ride a moving ocean wave on a surfboard

4 5.3

Treat a question or problem as not important

to wave off
  • Informal
2 5.9

Treat something as unimportant and ignore it

to hand-wave
  • Informal
1 8.3

To give a quick, unclear answer instead of real facts

To treat something as not important and ignore it

To move your hand to show you do not care

Compounds

brain wave
  • Specialized
35 4.0

A pattern of electrical activity in the brain seen on an EEG

shock wave
  • Specialized
33 4.0

A sudden strong wave of air and energy that moves away from an explosion or impact

30 3.2

A period of very hot weather that lasts several days

sound wave
  • Specialized
20 3.5

A pattern of vibrations that moves through air, water, or solids and carries sound

radio wave
  • Specialized
19 3.2

A wave of invisible energy that sends signals to radios and phones

18 4.9

A group of artists or writers who introduce new ideas and styles

12 3.4

A sudden rise in crime in an area in a short time

carrier wave
  • Specialized
7 6.1

Radio wave that carries information when its strength, rate, or timing is changed

7 3.2

A very large wave of water that suddenly rises along the coast and causes damage

wave function
  • Specialized
5 8.0

A math rule in quantum physics that shows how likely a particle is to be in a certain place

4 3.6

A sudden very strong emotion or reaction that affects many people

electromagnetic wave
  • Specialized
4 4.2

A wave of energy made of changing electric and magnetic fields that travels at the speed of light

gravitational wave
  • Specialized
4 7.2

A ripple in space and time made by very strong events like colliding black holes

3 7.5

A movement in 1950s and 1960s French films that used new ways of telling stories and showing images

sine wave
  • Specialized
3 5.1

A smooth repeating wave that goes up and down in a regular curved line

blast wave
  • Specialized
3 7.2

A moving area of very high pressure in air after an explosion

alpha wave
  • Specialized
3 6.4

A brain rhythm you have when you are awake and relaxed, often when you close your eyes or meditate

theta wave
  • Specialized
2 7.7

A slow, low energy brain rhythm that appears when a person is awake but relaxed or drowsy

delta wave
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A slow, large brain wave that appears during deep, dreamless sleep

long wave
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A type of radio signal with waves longer than one kilometre used for long distance broadcasting

short wave
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A radio wave that travels long distances and carries international broadcasts

wave front
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A surface that joins points a wave reaches at the same time, like light or sound

gravity wave
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A wave in space that makes space and time stretch when very heavy things move, like two black holes colliding

standing wave
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A wave pattern with some points that stay still while parts between them move up and down

beta wave
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A fast brainwave that appears when you are awake and thinking

acoustic wave
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A wave that carries sound through air, water, or a solid by vibrations

A small movement of the hand to say hello and show kindness

1 3.0

A long heavy wave in the sea that moves toward the shore

A sudden large amount of criticism aimed at someone or something

1 4.0

A long period of much colder than usual weather that affects a large area

air wave
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A wave of moving air that carries sound

medium wave
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A radio band used for AM broadcasts with long waves that travel far at night

A long-lasting set of curls in hair made with heat and chemicals

wave equation
  • Specialized
1 7.3

An equation that shows how waves such as light and sound move through space and materials

wave mechanics
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A part of physics that explains atoms and very small particles as waves

wave number
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A count of repeating movements per metre of light or sound

wave theory
  • Specialized
1 5.6

The idea that light and energy move as waves rather than particles

wave train
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A group of similar waves that follow each other at regular times

wave-particle duality
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A physics idea that light and matter act like waves and particles when you look at them

A bright red color that fills the sky at sunrise or sunset

A small greeting or goodbye made by moving the fingers

full-wave rectifier
  • Specialized
5.4

A device that changes electricity that goes back and forth into a steady positive flow

A wave in the sea that has white foam and bubbles

marcel wave
  • Archaic
9.7

A hairstyle with deep, regular waves made with a hot curling iron

ground wave
  • Specialized
7.0

A radio wave that travels along the Earth's surface and follows its curve

Hertzian wave
  • Archaic
8.1

An old name for a radio wave made by fast changes in an electric circuit

ionospheric wave
  • Specialized
8.5

A radio wave sent into the sky that bounces off the ionosphere back to Earth

9.9

An equation that shows how tiny particles behave over time

A wave that travels faster than the speed of sound in air or other materials

A sudden very strong feeling that you cannot control

A sudden large number of people protesting at the same time

traveling wave
  • Specialized
6.5

A wave that moves through something and carries energy along its path

traveling wave
  • Specialized
7.0

A moving pattern of brain activity that travels across different areas

sky wave
  • Specialized
7.8

A radio wave that bounces off the high air layer or a satellite back to the ground to travel far

solitary wave
  • Specialized
9.8

A single wave that travels long distances without changing shape or losing energy

soliton wave
  • Specialized
9.9

A single wave that keeps its shape while moving at steady speed in some materials

stationary wave
  • Specialized
7.9

A pattern where some points stay still and others vibrate strongly on a string or in air

wave angle
  • Specialized
7.2

The direction at which a radio signal comes to or leaves an antenna array, measured from the antenna's axis

wave angle
  • Specialized
7.3

The direction from which ocean waves approach the shore, measured from the shoreline

wave function
  • Specialized
6.5

A math rule that shows how a wave moves and its size

wave shape
  • Specialized
5.8

The line on a graph that shows how a sound or signal changes over time

wave theory of light
  • Specialized
4.9

A scientific idea that light moves as waves and makes bright and dark patterns

wave-off
  • Specialized
8.1

A signal to stop an approach and try again

widdle wave
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A small playful hand movement to say hello or show affection

How Wavy

to surge
57 4.1
to wave
64 1.0
to roll
1.0
to ripple
49 2.7
to lap
11 3.0

Surface Forms

wave infinitive
waved past
waved past participle
waving present participle
waves third person singular

Etymology

Wave as a verb comes from an old word meaning 'to move in a curved way' or 'to rise and fall'. That is why things 'wave' when they move up and down, like flags, grass, or smoke.