Wave vs. Waive: What's the Difference?
Understanding the difference between wave and waive can sharpen your communication skills. Wave primarily refers to a physical motion, often of the hand or arm as a gesture, or the undulating movement of water. 'Waive,' on the other hand, signifies the act of voluntarily giving up a right or claim, often in a legal or formal context. While both words sound similar, their meanings and usages are distinct.
How do you use the word wave in a sentence?
Use wave to describe a gesture of the hand, often as a greeting or farewell, or to refer to a swell or series of swells in the ocean. It can also signify a surge or outbreak of an occurrence or feeling. The versatility of wave covers physical and metaphorical applications.
Examples of wave in a sentence
- She gave a small wave and smiled as the train pulled away.
- The audience erupted in applause, and the conductor responded with a gracious wave.
- A powerful wave knocked him off his feet as he was surfing.
How do you use the word waive in a sentence?
Use waive when you want to express that someone is relinquishing a right or privilege. It's common in legal, bureaucratic, or administrative settings where policies and rights are involved. For example, signing a waiver may be a formal act of waiving certain legal rights.
Examples of waive in a sentence
- She decided to waive her right to a lawyer and represent herself in court.
- The college agreed to waive the application fees for all high school seniors in the district.
- Before participating in the event, all attendees must sign a form to waive liability.
Wave and waive definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Wave definition:
Wave, as a noun, is a sudden ridge or swell moving through a surface, especially over water, or anything with a movement that mimics such a pattern. As a verb, it signifies moving back and forth or up and down with a swaying motion or to gesture as a signal or salute.
Wave parts of speech:
Wave pronunciation:
Wave is pronounced as /weɪv/.
Waive definition:
To waive means to forgo an existing right or requirement, either temporarily or permanently. In most cases, it involves a formal decision or declaration to give up something, like a fee, claim, or privilege.
Waive parts of speech:
Waive pronunciation:
Waive is pronounced as /weɪv/, identically to 'wave'.
Wave, as a noun, is a sudden ridge or swell moving through a surface, especially over water, or anything with a movement that mimics such a pattern. As a verb, it signifies moving back and forth or up and down with a swaying motion or to gesture as a signal or salute.
Wave parts of speech:
- As a noun: The wave crashed against the shoreline.
- As a verb: She waved her hand to catch the taxi.
Wave pronunciation:
Wave is pronounced as /weɪv/.
Waive definition:
To waive means to forgo an existing right or requirement, either temporarily or permanently. In most cases, it involves a formal decision or declaration to give up something, like a fee, claim, or privilege.
Waive parts of speech:
- As a verb: They agreed to waive the late penalty in this instance.
- There is no common use of waive as a noun.
Waive pronunciation:
Waive is pronounced as /weɪv/, identically to 'wave'.
Wave vs. waive in a nutshell
To encapsulate, wave is all about physical or patterned motion, whether it's a greeting or the ebb and flow of the ocean. 'Waive,' in contrast, is an action of relinquishment, often legally binding, such as surrendering rights or foregoing a requirement. Although they are homophones, their meanings diverge significantly. Recognizing the context in which to employ each term is key to effective communication.
Get AI Writing Assistance Wherever You Type
Make sure your vocabulary is on point and every punctuation mark is in the right place, no matter where you’re working. Grammarly works across more than 500,000 websites and apps so you can improve your writing without copying, pasting, or breaking focused.
More Commonly Confused Words
Interest piqued? Pore (not pour) over other commonly confused words to help your writing reach peak (not peek) performance.