as in flapping
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as in motioning
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
waved them over to the side of the road
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Recent Examples of waving
Andrew Destin, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
With his own future still unconfirmed, Guardiola could be seen pumping his fists in celebration when Rayan Cherki slipped in the third goal and, after the final whistle, there was a victory walk around the pitch and a lot of affectionate waving and kiss-blowing.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 14 May 2026
It also has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, stirring protests outside the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
The flag-waving, the face paint, the pugnacious songs, the banners, the bellicose taunts at the opponents, the arms flung out in unison foster a collective spirit that can turn violent at times.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Assuming whatever creature birthed from a spider egg was also a shapeshifter would even allow the show to bring back everyone’s favorite dancing clown in a modern-day context without too much hand-waving.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Some 65,000 fans reveling in SDFC’s six goals scored and vibing off the supporter groups’ chants, drum-banging and flag-waving.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2026
This week, social media was rife with videos of fans from Argentina in Kansas City for the match against Algeria in high spirits, chanting and waving flags in places like Jack Stack Barbecue.
—Eric Adler
june 18, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Some streets in Guadalajara were filled with drivers honking horns and fans chanting and waving Mexican flags.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Chants, dances, flags, all waving, all joyous.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Kids ride along, waving flags, while neighbors line their driveways to cheer everyone on.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 17 June 2026
The audience gave the rendition high honors, waving their phone flashlights in the air as a couple danced onstage next to them.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026
The stadium roared as Mexico fans joined Iran fans cheering and waving flags.
—Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
The 12-year-old was seen riding in a carriage with his mother, Princess Kate and his siblings, while waving to crowds who had flooded the streets of London.
—Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Noun
Egypt has arrested and prosecuted gays and lesbians on the basis of vague indecency laws and has cracked down on any outward expressions of Pride, especially the waving of rainbow flags.
—Andrew Destin, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
With his own future still unconfirmed, Guardiola could be seen pumping his fists in celebration when Rayan Cherki slipped in the third goal and, after the final whistle, there was a victory walk around the pitch and a lot of affectionate waving and kiss-blowing.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 14 May 2026
It also has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, stirring protests outside the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
The flag-waving, the face paint, the pugnacious songs, the banners, the bellicose taunts at the opponents, the arms flung out in unison foster a collective spirit that can turn violent at times.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Assuming whatever creature birthed from a spider egg was also a shapeshifter would even allow the show to bring back everyone’s favorite dancing clown in a modern-day context without too much hand-waving.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Some 65,000 fans reveling in SDFC’s six goals scored and vibing off the supporter groups’ chants, drum-banging and flag-waving.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Turn to face the shore, tread water, and signal for help by calling out or waving your arms.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2026
This week, social media was rife with videos of fans from Argentina in Kansas City for the match against Algeria in high spirits, chanting and waving flags in places like Jack Stack Barbecue.
—Eric Adler
june 18, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Some streets in Guadalajara were filled with drivers honking horns and fans chanting and waving Mexican flags.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Chants, dances, flags, all waving, all joyous.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Kids ride along, waving flags, while neighbors line their driveways to cheer everyone on.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 17 June 2026
The audience gave the rendition high honors, waving their phone flashlights in the air as a couple danced onstage next to them.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026
The stadium roared as Mexico fans joined Iran fans cheering and waving flags.
—Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
The 12-year-old was seen riding in a carriage with his mother, Princess Kate and his siblings, while waving to crowds who had flooded the streets of London.
—Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving
Noun
-
Nearly two months old, the birds spend much of their days hopping, flapping, stomping and testing out their wings, a recent Facebook post from Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that operates their live cam, says.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
With the skin flapping, his words, not mine, the medical staff went full MacGyver on Buckberger.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In video shared by the outlet, Stewart grips surfaces for support while singing before motioning to a crew member, who brings over an oxygen tank and places the mask over his nose and mouth.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
21 June 2026
-
Gary Belaria said, motioning toward the parking lot.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
For all his bobbing and flailing, and sensitive shaping of the music, conductor Christian Capocaccia evinced little attention to singers.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But his role was not to fix a flailing business, but, rather, to keep a roaring flame alive.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Josh asks, gesturing to their current situation of eating dinner atop a yoga mat in the kitchen of their apartment.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
-
The premise means that almost the entire episode is free of dialogue, with the characters communicating by writing on chalkboards and gesturing.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waving. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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