as in motioning
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
waved them over to the side of the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in flapping
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waving
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Many springs feature a visible boil at the water surface above the spring vent, crystal clear water, submerged grasses waving in the current, and a range of fish, turtles, snails and other aquatic animals hiding in the grasses.
—Christopher F. Meindl, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
The poster, Miruna Voicu, told Newsweek that her West Highland White Terrier, who also go by Sami the Westie, is known for his signature move—waving hello.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Turn to face the shore, tread water, and signal for help by shouting or waving your arms.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Rather than take care of patients in the hospital, the nurses gathered daily on the grassy shoulder of Holly Road, waving protest signs and chanting.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
The show came under the microscope when a security guard tackled a person who was waving a flag in support of Palestinians and the Sudanese.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The lineup of dishes and sauces and combos verges on overwhelming; they’re presented in a mix of typefaces and colors, and punctuated by herky-jerky photo animations—a waving hand holding a soft-serve twist, spidery fingers with brass nail extensions used in the traditional Thai dance Fawn Leb.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Brown stayed down for a bit, and then walked off the field with a trainer holding a towel to Brown’s bleeding chin — and with his arms waving on the crowd.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Rookie running back Omarion Hampton started waving his hand toward the sideline.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Many springs feature a visible boil at the water surface above the spring vent, crystal clear water, submerged grasses waving in the current, and a range of fish, turtles, snails and other aquatic animals hiding in the grasses.
—Christopher F. Meindl, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
The poster, Miruna Voicu, told Newsweek that her West Highland White Terrier, who also go by Sami the Westie, is known for his signature move—waving hello.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Turn to face the shore, tread water, and signal for help by shouting or waving your arms.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Rather than take care of patients in the hospital, the nurses gathered daily on the grassy shoulder of Holly Road, waving protest signs and chanting.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
The show came under the microscope when a security guard tackled a person who was waving a flag in support of Palestinians and the Sudanese.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The lineup of dishes and sauces and combos verges on overwhelming; they’re presented in a mix of typefaces and colors, and punctuated by herky-jerky photo animations—a waving hand holding a soft-serve twist, spidery fingers with brass nail extensions used in the traditional Thai dance Fawn Leb.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Brown stayed down for a bit, and then walked off the field with a trainer holding a towel to Brown’s bleeding chin — and with his arms waving on the crowd.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving
Verb
-
After motioning Tez Johnson from right to left beyond Egbuka, the Bucs created a single-high look with safety Blankenship dropping down to cover tight end Cade Otton.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Wind-tunnel measurements revealed that the FSF motion delivers higher lift coefficients and better head-up pitching moments compared with simple flapping.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
-
When the wing flapping became incessant, the DNR team knew the eagles were just about ready.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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He could be seen excitedly running down the Philly sideline while gesturing to his groin.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
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The OpenAI blog posts touch glancingly on this topic, gesturing toward the worry that parents may have about their kids using ChatGPT too much and developing too intense of a relationship with it.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Clark, who knelt beside Foo 30 years ago when the surfer was pulled lifeless from the sea, watched Slebir’s epic ride that day from the back of a Sea-Doo, set up to pull flailing surfers aboard.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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In its anguished flailing, the memoir managed to burn bridges with his father, brother, and stepmother overnight.—
Alexander Larman,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waving. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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