to wave at
42
1.0
- phrasal verb
- /weɪv æt/
:
saludar con la mano
- She smiled and waved at her friend across the street.
And he smiles and waves at us and says, hey, guys.
- And he smiles and waves at us and says, hey, guys.
- Even then he was busy waving at a congregation.
- The first one is stop waving at the waiters to get their attention, OK?
- Childhood friends would drive by, their parents would drive by and wave at me and, like, tell me things like, it's it's been amazing watching you grow.
- People out here, you know, waving at each other, stealing shit.
- It's a small world tour around the hospital to wave at his wack job supporters.
- We saw this car full of people like waving at us and chasing our car.
- Go home, wave at my children as I go past the hallway by Hello children.
Examples
-
Hey, were you waving at me?
-
People should wave at cops.
-
Give me a big smile and wave at your partner.
-
- Yo, guys, wave, wave at her, wave at her!
-
I might just turn around and wave at ya.
-
I like to wave at them as they pass by.
-
We can wave at each other.
-
A woman passing by with a baby in her arms waves at him.
Fiction book (1992) -
And he smiles and waves at us and says, hey, guys.
-
As they rolled down the driveway, Mrs. Saito waved at them, smiling.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
584
1.0
To move your hand back and forth to greet or get attention
62
3.0
To move a hand to show or ask for something
51
1.0
To react to something in a certain way when it happens
23
4.0
Move your hand or head to tell someone to come closer
1
1.0
Say a short greeting when you meet someone or answer the phone
Antonyms
How Energetic
Surface Forms
Morphology
wave + at
The meaning 'to greet or attract someone's attention by moving your hand' is directly derivable from 'wave' (to move one's hand) combined with the directional/targeting function of 'at' (toward someone). This verb + preposition composition is a common, transparent pattern in English and many other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand it.
Etymology
Wave at comes from the simple action of moving your hand side to side like a small wave toward someone; that's why it means 'to greet someone or get their attention'.