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new wave

new wave

18 4.9
A group of artists or writers who introduce new ideas and styles
  • noun
  • /nuː weɪv/
translation icon : nueva ola
  • The art gallery is showcasing the new wave of contemporary artists who are redefining modern sculpture.
  • new wave of immigration

I don't see this new wave of art arriving.

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Examples

  • Companies will exploit scientific talent in other countries to spark a new wave of technological innovation.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Between the seventh and the eighth centuries A.D., a new wave of immigration swept the Balkan peninsula.

    Academic text (1993)
  • There is a new wave of change all around us.

  • In some ways, Hair represents the new wave of local lawyers.

    Academic text (2001)
  • At that moment, of course, a new wave of interest in Asian art was sweeping across the United States.

    Academic text (2013)
  • I want to be part of this new wave of atheists, or A+.

    Blog text (2)
  • Within this context, a new wave of unionism emerged.

    Academic text (2006)
  • And we believe our business will occupy a central role, both physically and emotionally, at the heart of this new wave of regeneration in Leith.

  • The promise of these new intervention strategies helped inaugurate a new wave of preventive efforts.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Following the 1905 Revolution in Russian-occupied Poland, a new wave of political activists reached the United States.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

trend
vsnew wave
667 2.3

A general change over time in what people do or like

is an active movement adopting and promoting new concepts rather than a general direction
vanguard
vsnew wave
18 7.2

People at the front leading a movement or new idea

is a broader group embracing new concepts rather than only leading from the front
avant-garde
vsnew wave
14 8.2

A group of people who try new and unusual ideas in art, music, or writing

is a movement adopting new concepts and techniques without always being extremely experimental

Antonyms

994 1.5

Following long-held customs and ways of doing things

A careful way of acting that prefers safe, low-risk choices

How Innovative

avant-garde
7 8.2
vanguard
18 7.2
new wave
18 4.9
movement
3.6
trend
667 2.3

Surface Forms

new wave singular
new waves plural

Morphology

new + wave

The meaning 'a group or movement introducing new concepts' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'new' (recent, novel) with 'wave' (a surge or period of activity). This ADJ+NOUN compositional pattern and the metaphorical use of 'wave' is common cross-linguistically (e.g., French nouvelle vague), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

New wave comes from the picture of a fresh wave of water that sweeps in and changes the shore. Artists used that image to name a group with 'new ideas', so today it means a 'movement' that brings new styles and ways of working.