1
a
: the typically narrowed part of the body between the hips and chest or upper back
put his arm around her waist
b
: the greatly constricted basal part of the abdomen of some insects (such as wasps and flies)
2
: the part of something corresponding to or resembling the human waist: such as
a(1)
: the part of a ship's deck between the poop and forecastle
(2)
: the middle part of a sailing ship between foremast and mainmast
b
: the middle section of the fuselage of an airplane
Examples of waist in a Sentence
He has a narrow waist and broad shoulders.
He put his arm around her waist.
These pants have an elastic waist.
The waist of this skirt is too tight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Clad in a black, flowy dress with chains swinging around their waist, Dua Saleh’s whispery cadence gave her an enchanting presence over the room.
—
Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
The dress featured a decorative belt or sash at the waist that had rose-like detailing.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 26 June 2025
Briggs Petite Pull-On Dress Pant Available in an array of petite, short, and plus sizes, these pull-on dress pants have a banded waist and elastic back that’s super easy to get on and extremely comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
The high-rise sits just at the natural waist, giving these leggings an ultra-fit.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for waist
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Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
The dress featured a decorative belt or sash at the waist that had rose-like detailing.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 26 June 2025
Briggs Petite Pull-On Dress Pant Available in an array of petite, short, and plus sizes, these pull-on dress pants have a banded waist and elastic back that’s super easy to get on and extremely comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
The high-rise sits just at the natural waist, giving these leggings an ultra-fit.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for waist
Cite this Entry
“Waist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waist. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
waist
noun1
a
: the usually narrowed part of the body between the chest and hips
b
: the narrow front part of the abdomen of some insects (as a wasp)
2
: the central portion of something that is usually thinner or narrower than the ends
the waist of a ship
the waist of a violin
3
: a garment or the part of a garment that covers the body from the neck to the waist
Medical Definition
waist
noun
: the typically narrowed part of the body between the thorax and hips
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