waving
/weɪv/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈevɪŋ] /weɪv/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈevɪŋ] /ˈwāv How to pronounce wave (audio)/ (ame, mw)
waving — verb
- wavingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wavings3rd person singular
- wavinging-ing form
- wavingedpast simple
1. to raise one hand into the air and sweep it left and right as a greeting, to cat
to raise one hand into the air and sweep it left and right as a greeting, to catch notice, or to strengthen what you are saying
Roya waved at her neighbour from across the busy street.
wave at [person] for greeting
The children stood on the platform and waved goodbye to their grandmother.
wave goodbye to [person]
Jin waved his hand in the air to get the waiter's attention.
The young mother waved both hands above her head as the train pulled out of the station.
The police officer waved at the driver to slow down.
文法句型
wave at/to [person]
wave goodbye
wave [hand/arm]
用法筆記
The object of 'wave at' or 'wave to' is always the person you are signalling, not the message itself.
常見錯誤
2. to signal with your hand where you want a person or vehicle to go — for example,
to signal with your hand where you want a person or vehicle to go — for example, waving a taxi towards you or waving a child away from danger
Sivan waved the taxi towards the hotel entrance.
wave [vehicle] + direction
The guard at the gate waved us through without checking our bags.
wave [person] + through
Esme waved the children away from the broken glass on the floor.
Tuan stood beside the narrow garage entrance and waved the truck in.
The instructor waved Beatriz over to the free treadmill.
文法句型
wave [person/vehicle] + adverb/preposition
wave [person] + away/through/in/over
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (HAND GESTURE): here the hand movement tells someone WHERE to go, not just that you see them. Frequently used with direction words: away, through, in, over, on.
常見錯誤
3. to hold something up and shake or sweep it through the air, or to bend and sway
to hold something up and shake or sweep it through the air, or to bend and sway in a current of wind
Yasmin waved the sparkler in the dark, drawing circles of light.
wave [object] for effect
The tall grass waved gently in the summer breeze.
[subject] + wave + in the breeze
Nila stood by the open window, waving the letter back and forth to dry the ink.
Flags from twenty countries waved above the stadium entrance.
High on the scaffolding, the builder waved a red flag to stop the approaching lorry.
文法句型
wave [object]
[subject] + wave + in the breeze
用法筆記
When intransitive, the subject is usually something flexible that can move in the wind: flags, grass, branches, banners.
常見錯誤
4. if someone's hair has a gentle natural curve instead of hanging completely strai
if someone's hair has a gentle natural curve instead of hanging completely straight
After every swim, Mayumi’s hair waves softly around her shoulders as it dries.
hair + wave + after [activity]
Reema sat under the salon dryer while the rollers made her straight hair wave at the ends.
hair + wave + at the ends
On humid summer mornings, Beatriz lets her hair wave instead of reaching for the straightening iron.
Jin's hair began to wave after he moved to the humid coastal town.
- straighten
the opposite action, often done with a flat iron or chemical treatment
文法句型
[hair] + wave
用法筆記
Subject is always hair (or a specific reference to hair like 'locks' or 'strands'). Distinct from sense 3: this sense only describes the shape of hair, not movement caused by wind or a person's hand.
waving — noun
1. a ridge of water on a lake, ocean, or river that rises above the surface and tra
a ridge of water on a lake, ocean, or river that rises above the surface and travels forward before breaking
Roya watched the waves crash against the rocks below the cliff.
waves + crash against
The children jumped over the small waves at the edge of the shore.
small/big waves
A huge wave lifted the fishing boat and tossed it sideways.
Sivan lay on his surfboard waiting for the next big wave.
The children floated on their backs, letting the gentle waves rock them up and down.
用法筆記
The most common and concrete sense. Often used in the plural 'waves' when talking about the sea in general.
常見錯誤
2. a quick lift and sway of the hand, done to greet, bid farewell, or get someone t
a quick lift and sway of the hand, done to greet, bid farewell, or get someone to look your way
Jin gave a quick wave and stepped onto the train.
give a wave
Brooke lifted one hand in a shy wave, then quickly looked down at her feet.
lifted one hand in a wave
The teacher gave a tired wave and the students packed their bags in noisy relief.
Esme caught her friend's wave from the other side of the hall.
Grandma stood at the window and gave a small wave as the car pulled away.
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'give a wave' rather than 'do a wave'. 'A wave of the hand' is a common phrase for describing the gesture.
3. a rolling effect created by spectators at a stadium, where each section stands w
a rolling effect created by spectators at a stadium, where each section stands with arms raised and then sits, one after the next, so the movement travels around the arena
The wave swept through the stadium during the second half of the match.
the wave + swept through
Tuan stood up with the crowd as the wave reached their section.
the wave + reached [section]
Fans started a Mexican wave that circled the arena three times.
The children at the back started the wave, and within seconds the whole crowd joined in.
- Mexican wave
the same phenomenon; this term is preferred in British English
- stadium wave
an alternative name emphasising the location
用法筆記
Also called a 'Mexican wave' (especially in British English). The phrase 'do the wave' is the most common verb pattern.
常見錯誤
4. a form in which energy like light, radio signals, or sound moves through space o
a form in which energy like light, radio signals, or sound moves through space or a material
Radio waves carry the signal from the station to your car.
radio waves
Dmitri tapped the metal pipe and listened as the sound waves echoed all the way to the other end.
sound waves + echoed
Yasmin held her ticket under the gate’s red light, and the light waves read the barcode in an instant.
The doctor checked the brain waves on the monitor beside the bed.
Reema put cold rice in the microwave and watched as the invisible waves heated her lunch.
用法筆記
Almost always used in compound form: 'radio waves', 'sound waves', 'light waves'. Learners rarely need this sense outside science contexts.
5. a sudden increase in the number of similar events happening around the same time
a sudden increase in the number of similar events happening around the same time — for example, a crime wave or a wave of new infections
The city faced a wave of burglaries during the winter months.
a wave of [crime type]
A wave of new coffee shops opened in the neighbourhood last year.
a wave of [new things]
Nila wrapped an extra blanket around herself as a sudden cold wave turned the roads to ice overnight.
The country welcomed a fresh wave of immigrants after the border opened.
Hospitals prepared for a second wave of the virus in early autumn.
用法筆記
The pattern 'a wave of + [plural noun]' is the most common structure. Often used with negative events (crime, attacks, disease), but can also describe positive trends (innovation, enthusiasm).
常見錯誤
6. a powerful feeling that rises up suddenly and sweeps through you, such as relief
a powerful feeling that rises up suddenly and sweeps through you, such as relief, anger, or sadness
A wave of relief washed over Mayumi when she heard her son's voice.
a wave of relief + washed over
Reema felt a sudden wave of anger when she saw someone keying her new car.
a wave of anger + when [trigger]
Sofie was hit by a wave of sadness as she packed away the old photos.
The news brought a wave of excitement to the small fishing village.
用法筆記
Common verb patterns: 'a wave of [emotion] washed over [person]', '[person] felt a wave of [emotion]', '[person] was hit by a wave of [emotion]'. Distinguish from sense 5 (SURGE OR OUTBREAK): sense 5 is about countable events; sense 6 is about an internal emotional experience.
7. a gentle S-shaped bend in someone's hair, either natural or created with heat or
a gentle S-shaped bend in someone's hair, either natural or created with heat or products
Beatriz asked the hairdresser for soft waves that would frame her face.
soft/loose waves
Roya found a wedding photo of her grandmother, her dark hair set in deep waves for the occasion.
hair set in deep waves
Jin's sister used a curling wand to put waves into her straight bob.
Yasmin stepped off the bus into the drizzle and felt her natural waves spring back around her temples.
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural 'waves'. Collocates with adjectives describing tightness: 'loose waves', 'soft waves', 'tight waves'. Distinguish from verb sense 4 (CURL SLIGHTLY): the verb describes the hair's behaviour; the noun describes the resulting shape.