noun
Uncommon
waving
WAY-vihng
Waving (noun) means the action of moving something, especially the hand or arm, back and forth as a greeting or signal. Example: “She caught his eye across the platform and gave a quick wave, waving until the train pulled away.”
noun
1
The action of moving something, especially the hand or arm, back and forth as a greeting or signal.
"She caught his eye across the platform and gave a quick wave, waving until the train pulled away."
"The crowd greeted the runners with cheering and waving all along the route."
"There was a lot of waving as the ferry left the pier."
2
The gentle back-and-forth motion of something loose or flexible, like hair, flags, or grass in the wind.
"The waving of the wheat field made the whole hillside look like it was breathing."
"He noticed the waving of the curtains before he even felt the draft."
"The waving of the tall grass showed which way the breeze was blowing."
How to use waving
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMoving something back and forth — usually a hand to say hello or goodbye, or something loose swaying in the wind.
Common pairings
waving goodbye
waving a flag
the waving of the trees
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like waving.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wavings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She caught his eye across the platform and gave a quick wave, _____ until the train pulled away.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for waving
See all rhymes for waving →Frequently asked questions
What does “waving” mean?
The word “waving” means the action of moving something, especially the hand or arm, back and forth as a greeting or signal. In plain terms, moving something back and forth — usually a hand to say hello or goodbye, or something loose swaying in the wind.
How do you pronounce “waving”?
“Waving” is pronounced WAY-vihng (/ˈweɪvɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “waving” in a sentence?
Here is “waving” used in a sentence: “She caught his eye across the platform and gave a quick wave, waving until the train pulled away.”
What part of speech is “waving”?
“Waving” is a noun.
Is “waving” a common word?
“Waving” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “waving” have?
“Waving” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the action of moving something, especially the hand or arm, back and forth as a greeting or signal.
What is the difference between waving and waiving?
Waving refers to moving the hand or arm back and forth as a greeting or signal, or to something loose moving gently like flags or grass. Waiving means voluntarily giving up a right or claim; the two words are unrelated despite sounding alike.
Is waving used only to describe hand gestures?
No, waving can also describe the gentle back-and-forth motion of loose or flexible things such as hair, flags, or grass in the wind, not just a hand or arm greeting.
What is a common mistake with the word waving?
The most common mistake is confusing waving with waiving in writing, since the two words sound identical but have completely different meanings, one describing motion and the other describing giving up a right.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include waving:
