wave

You can use the word "wave" as a noun or as a verb.

Wave (noun): When a large movement of water pushes towards the shoreline, it gets larger as it approaches land:

This is a wave.

• Here comes a big wave!
• Many people are attracted to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
• It’s very difficult to swim against the waves.

Wave (noun): Something or someone creates momentum that results in large, dense movements of people or things.

• The candidate is enjoying a sudden wave of popular support.
• A wave of customers entered the store in the late afternoon.
• Waves of baseball fans arrived at Wrigley Field on the el.
• The wind sends waves through a field of grain.

a field of grain

Wave (noun or verb): A person uses one’s hand to signal a greeting or attract attention:

wave

• They waved at us. (verb)
• They gave us a wave. (noun)
• We waved back at them. (verb)
• We gave them a wave. (noun)

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This page was first published on October 24, 2012. It was updated on April 24, 2015.