as in motioned
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
waved them over to the side of the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of waved
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The crowd danced, waved flags, and voiced their support for democracy in the country they were forced to leave decades ago.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Airlines canceled thousands of flights and waved change and cancellation fees for airports across the East Coast.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
Once closed, students gathered in the road and played music, displayed signs and waved flags.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Feb. 2026
Danai Gurira wraps her braids in intricate, waved shapes along her face for an elegant red carpet look.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
After Trump’s press conference about U.S. actions in Venezuela, people still gathered outside the Doral restaurant and sang, danced and waved flags.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2026
But publicly, Broncos head coach Sean Payton treated news of Justin Herbert’s Sunday absence with a waved hand and a shrug.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Jan. 2026
As a helicopter carrying hostages to the Ichilov hospital flew overhead, crowds cheered, applauded and waved flags.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 13 Oct. 2025
CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
After the highlight reel concluded, Porzingis raised both arms over his 7-foot-3 frame and waved to the adoring crowd.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Halaska apologized during her sentencing hearing and said one of the men had waved a knife at her and made verbal threats toward her and the other woman.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
And if the, forgive me, journey does end here, Indy was lucky to partake in the sendoff — even if the Gainbridge crowd waved a somewhat underwhelming farewell.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 18 Mar. 2026
The fabric covering her front continued behind her like two mini trains, which Olandria waved with her hands, creating an almost wing-like shape.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
As the first wave of free agency passed, Sean Payton waved back from his office window.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Neto was waved around to try to score from first base on a one-out double down the left-field line in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Notably, for what happens at the end of the episode, Kenya gets pretty much waved through to the next round by the panel.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Lawmakers listened and asked questions while demonstrators outside displayed signs and waved flags.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The crowd danced, waved flags, and voiced their support for democracy in the country they were forced to leave decades ago.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Airlines canceled thousands of flights and waved change and cancellation fees for airports across the East Coast.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
Once closed, students gathered in the road and played music, displayed signs and waved flags.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Feb. 2026
Danai Gurira wraps her braids in intricate, waved shapes along her face for an elegant red carpet look.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
After Trump’s press conference about U.S. actions in Venezuela, people still gathered outside the Doral restaurant and sang, danced and waved flags.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2026
But publicly, Broncos head coach Sean Payton treated news of Justin Herbert’s Sunday absence with a waved hand and a shrug.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Jan. 2026
As a helicopter carrying hostages to the Ichilov hospital flew overhead, crowds cheered, applauded and waved flags.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
Foligno held his stick in the air and waved to the cheering crowd after he was saluted with a tribute video during a timeout in the opening period.
—CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
After the highlight reel concluded, Porzingis raised both arms over his 7-foot-3 frame and waved to the adoring crowd.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Halaska apologized during her sentencing hearing and said one of the men had waved a knife at her and made verbal threats toward her and the other woman.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
And if the, forgive me, journey does end here, Indy was lucky to partake in the sendoff — even if the Gainbridge crowd waved a somewhat underwhelming farewell.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 18 Mar. 2026
The fabric covering her front continued behind her like two mini trains, which Olandria waved with her hands, creating an almost wing-like shape.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
As the first wave of free agency passed, Sean Payton waved back from his office window.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Neto was waved around to try to score from first base on a one-out double down the left-field line in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Notably, for what happens at the end of the episode, Kenya gets pretty much waved through to the next round by the panel.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waved
Adjective
-
Her curls were styled in a casual side-part with her natural wavy texture on full display.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Now, my youthful experimentations with this stretchy style weren't exactly camera ready, as it was constantly getting tangled in my thick, wavy hair.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Francis hopped to the stage and motioned to his co-producers, Fred Roos and Gray Frederickson, to give their speeches first.—
Paul Fischer,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
-
After about an hour, Diana motioned to her protection officer.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Moments later, Hopkins gestured with his arm after draining a 3-pointer.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
As the deep bass from the DJ’s techno beats shook cups of cocktail sauce on a nearby table, Koc, a software engineer by day, gestured to the hundreds of OpenClaw disciples on the dance floor and argued that the excitement was more than just a passing fad.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For best results, use a hair dryer that has a diffuser for curls that are defined, but not frizzy.—
Audrey Noble,
InStyle,
10 Mar. 2026
-
And my hair is very, very frizzy.—
Eden Stuart,
Glamour,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The affair between Clark and Carol called for some fairly ridiculous, kinky and specific acts in a hotel room.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Something kinky and nasty that won’t leave a hint of regret the next morning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The rest of her hair was pulled up in an undone updo, with a handful of delicately curled tendrils falling down her shoulders for extra romantic effect.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Senior Sebastian Valencia scored goals on a header on a cross by junior Mason Sanders and another on a curled solo shot from distance.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waved. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
