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Another word for wave

a-z
Verb

  1. To move to and fro vigorously and usually repeatedly

      1. To move (an attached part, for example) with short, quick motions:
      2. To move shakily; wobble:
      3. A wobbling motion.
      1. To move briskly and repeatedly from side to side, to and fro, or up and down:
      2. To move rapidly in talking. Used of the tongue.
      3. To be on one's way; depart.
      1. An exchange or a swap, especially one done secretly.
      2. A transference or shift, as of opinion or attention.
      3. A device used to break or open an electric circuit or to divert current from one conductor to another.
    See also:

    repetition

  2. To move or cause to move about while being fixed at one edge

      1. To move through the air by means of wings or winglike parts.
      2. To travel by air:
      3. To operate an aircraft or spacecraft.
      1. To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner:
      2. To fly by a quick light flapping of the wings.
      3. To flap the wings without flying.
      1. A projecting or hanging piece usually attached to something on one side and often intended to protect or cover:
      2. Either of the folded ends of a book jacket that fit inside the front and back covers.
      3. A variable control surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, used primarily to increase lift or drag.
    See also:

    repetition

  3. To move (one's arms or wings, for example) up and down

      1. To move (an attached part, for example) with short, quick motions:
      2. To move shakily; wobble:
      3. A wobbling motion.
      1. To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner:
      2. To fly by a quick light flapping of the wings.
      3. To flap the wings without flying.
      1. To fall or lie down heavily and noisily:
      2. To move about loosely or limply:
      3. To fail utterly:
      1. A projecting or hanging piece usually attached to something on one side and often intended to protect or cover:
      2. Either of the folded ends of a book jacket that fit inside the front and back covers.
      3. A variable control surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, used primarily to increase lift or drag.
      1. To strike repeatedly.
      2. To subject to repeated beatings or physical abuse; batter.
      3. To punish by hitting or whipping; flog.
    See also:

    repetition

  4. To wield boldly and dramatically

      1. To clean or clear, as of dirt, with a broom or brush:
      2. To clear away with a broom or brush:
      3. To clear (a path or space) with a broom or brush.
      1. To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive:
      2. To do or fare well; prosper:
      3. To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence, or influence:
      1. To wave or flourish (something, often a weapon) in a menacing, defiant, or excited way.
      2. A menacing, defiant, or excited wave or flourish of something.
    See also:

    express

  5. To have or cause to have a curved or sinuous form or surface

      1. To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion:
      2. To have a wavelike appearance or form:
      3. To increase and decrease in volume or pitch.
      1. A line that deviates from straightness in a smooth, continuous fashion.
      2. A surface that deviates from planarity in a smooth, continuous fashion.
      3. Something characterized by such a line or surface, especially a rounded line or contour of the human body.
      1. To twist (the hair, for example) into ringlets or coils.
      2. To form into a coiled or spiral shape:
      3. To decorate with coiled or spiral shapes.
    See also:

    straight

© Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Another word for wave

Noun

  1. A wall of water

      1. To twist (the hair, for example) into ringlets or coils.
      2. To form into a coiled or spiral shape:
      3. To decorate with coiled or spiral shapes.
      1. To form or display little undulations or waves on the surface, as disturbed water does.
      2. To flow with such undulations or waves on the surface.
      3. To rise and fall gently in tone or volume.
      1. A wave with a crest of foam.
      1. One that breaks, as a machine for breaking up or crushing a substance, such as rock, coal, or plant fibers.
      2. A circuit breaker.
      3. A wave that crests or breaks into foam, as against a shoreline.
      1. A hollow cylinder, especially one that conveys a fluid or functions as a passage.
      2. An organic structure having the shape or function of a tube; a duct:
      3. A small flexible cylindrical container sealed at one end and having a screw cap at the other, for pigments, toothpaste, or other pastelike substances.
      1. To make a hole in or through, with or as if with a drill.
      2. To form (a tunnel, for example) by drilling, digging, or burrowing.
      3. To make a hole in or through something with or as if with a drill:
      1. A usually ornamental tuft, ridge, or similar projection on the head of a bird or other animal.
      2. An elevated, irregularly toothed ridge on the stigmas of certain flowers.
      3. A ridge or an appendage on a plant part, such as on a leaf or petal.
      1. To rise and move in a billowing or swelling manner.
      2. To roll or be tossed about on waves, as a boat.
      3. To move like advancing waves:
      1. The periodic variation in the surface level of the oceans and of bays, gulfs, inlets, and estuaries, caused by gravitational attraction of the moon and sun.
      2. A specific occurrence of such a variation:
      3. Flood tide.
      1. A large wave or swell of water.
      2. A great swell, surge, or undulating mass, as of smoke or sound.
      3. To surge or roll in billows.
      1. The regularly occurring elevation of the ocean's surface water at high tide.
      2. An unusual, often destructive rise of water along the seashore, as from onshore storm winds or a combination of wind and high tide.
      3. A tsunami. Not in scientific use.
      1. To raise or lift, especially with great effort or force:
      2. To throw (a heavy object) with great effort; hurl:
      3. To throw or toss:
      1. One that rolls or performs a rolling operation or activity.
      2. A small spokeless wheel, such as that of a roller skate or caster.
      3. An elongated cylinder on which something, such as a window shade or towel, is wound.
      1. To increase in size or volume as a result of internal pressure; expand.
      2. To increase in force, size, number, or degree:
      3. To grow in loudness or intensity:
      1. One, such as a machine or a worker, that combs something, such as wool.
      2. A long wave that has reached its peak or broken into foam; a breaker.

  2. A movement suggestive of a wave

  3. Undulating movement

  4. A line suggestive of a wave

      1. A fancy twist or curl, such as a flourish made with a pen.
      1. A spiral scroll-like ornament such as that used on an Ionic capital.
      2. A spiral formation, such as one of the whorls of a gastropod shell.
      3. Any of various marine gastropod mollusks of the family Volutidae, having a spiral, often colorfully marked shell.
      1. To wind together (two or more threads, for example) so as to produce a single strand.
      2. To form in this manner:
      3. To wind or coil (vines or rope, for example) about something.
      1. A length of line, thread, ribbon, or other thin material that is curved or doubled over making an opening.
      2. The opening formed by such a doubled line.
      3. Something having a shape, order, or path of motion that is circular or curved over on itself.
      1. To follow a winding and turning course:
      2. To move aimlessly and idly without fixed direction:
      3. To speak or write in sustained fashion on a number of loosely connected topics.
      1. A form or part that is folded or coiled.
      2. One of the convex folds of the surface of the brain.
      1. A tight curl, twist, or bend in a length of thin material, as one caused by the tensing of a looped section of wire.
      2. A painful muscle spasm, as in the neck or back; a crick.
      3. A difficulty or flaw that is likely to impede operation, as in a plan or system.
      1. A roll, as of parchment or papyrus, used especially for writing a document.
      2. An ancient book or volume written on such a roll.
      3. A list or schedule of names.
Verb

  1. To flutter

      1. To rotate rapidly about a center or an axis; spin.
      2. To move while rotating or turning about:
      3. To turn rapidly, changing direction; wheel:
      1. To shake involuntarily, as from excitement or anger; quake.
      2. To feel fear or anxiety:
      3. To vibrate or quiver:
      1. To move back and forth suspended or as if suspended from above.
      2. To hit at something with a sweeping motion of the arm:
      3. To move laterally or in a curve:
      1. To move with a hissing or whistling sound.
      2. To rustle, as silk.
      3. To cause to move with a swishing sound:
      1. A projecting or hanging piece usually attached to something on one side and often intended to protect or cover:
      2. Either of the folded ends of a book jacket that fit inside the front and back covers.
      3. A variable control surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, used primarily to increase lift or drag.
      1. To move rhythmically usually to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures.
      2. To perform a specialized set of movements to communicate chiefly with other members of the same species.
      3. To move or leap about excitedly.
      1. To move through the air by means of wings or winglike parts.
      2. To travel by air:
      3. To operate an aircraft or spacecraft.
      1. To cause to move from side to side or up and down with jerky movements:
      2. To cause to tremble, vibrate, or rock:
      3. To brandish or wave, especially in anger:
      1. To move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity, as in the manner characteristic of a fluid.
      2. To issue in a stream; pour forth:
      3. To circulate, as the blood in the body.
      1. The rhythmical throbbing of arteries produced by the regular contractions of the heart, especially as palpated at the wrist or in the neck.
      2. A regular or rhythmical beating.
      3. A single beat or throb.
      1. A flow of water in a channel or bed, as a brook, rivulet, or small river.
      2. A steady current in such a flow of water.
      3. A steady current of a fluid.
    Antonyms:

  2. To give an alternating movement

  3. To move back and forth

      1. To move with a slight tremulous motion; tremble, shake, or quiver.
      2. To beat with excessive rapidity; throb.
      1. To shake with a slight, rapid, tremulous movement.
      2. To tremble, as from cold or strong emotion.
      3. The act or motion of quivering.
      1. To quiver, as from weakness; tremble.
      2. To speak in a quivering voice; utter a quivering sound.
      3. To produce a trill on an instrument or with the voice.
      1. A device, such as a cylinder, spool, or frame, that turns on an axis and is used for winding and storing rope, tape, film, or other flexible materials.
      2. A cylindrical device attached to a fishing rod to let out or wind up the line.
      3. The quantity of wire, film, or other material wound on one reel.
      1. To move or rotate with an uneven or rocking motion or unsteadily from side to side.
      2. To tremble or quaver:
      3. To waver or vacillate in one's opinions or feelings.
      1. A long plank balanced on a central fulcrum so that with a person riding on each end, one end goes up as the other goes down.
      2. The act or game of riding a seesaw.
      3. A back-and-forth or up-and-down movement.
      1. To hang loosely and swing or sway to and fro:
      2. To cause to hang loosely or swing:
      3. To offer as an inducement or an enticement:
      1. To move back and forth suspended or as if suspended from above.
      2. To hit at something with a sweeping motion of the arm:
      3. To move laterally or in a curve:
      1. To cause to assume a curved or angular shape:
      2. To bring (a bow, for example) into a state of tension by drawing on a string or line.
      3. To force to assume a different direction or shape, according to one's own purpose:
      1. To make an abrupt sudden movement:
      2. To move with abrupt movements; move haltingly or jerkily.
      3. To roll or pitch suddenly or erratically:
      1. To swing back and forth or to and fro.
      2. To incline or bend to one side; veer:
      3. To incline toward change, as in opinion or feeling:
      1. To move (an attached part, for example) with short, quick motions:
      2. To move shakily; wobble:
      3. A wobbling motion.
      1. To move briskly and repeatedly from side to side, to and fro, or up and down:
      2. To move rapidly in talking. Used of the tongue.
      3. To be on one's way; depart.
      1. To move back and forth or to and fro, especially rhythmically and rapidly:
      2. To progress in a given direction while moving back and forth rapidly:
      3. To be in a state of great activity, excitement, or agitation:
      1. To expand and contract rhythmically:
      2. To produce rhythmic sounds or other vibrations:
      1. To vary irregularly, especially in amount:
      1. To be unable to choose between different courses of action or opinions; waver:
      2. To change between one state and another; fluctuate:
      3. To sway from one side to the other.
      1. To swing back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm.
      2. To waver, as between conflicting opinions or courses of action; vacillate:
      3. To vary between alternate extremes, usually within a definable period of time.
      1. To move unsteadily back and forth:
      2. To move in a certain direction with a swaying or unsteady motion:
      3. To exhibit irresolution or indecision; vacillate:
      1. To be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence; waver:
      2. To speak hesitatingly; stammer:
      3. To move unsteadily or haltingly; stumble:
    See also:

    rock

  4. To undulate

      1. To wind together (two or more threads, for example) so as to produce a single strand.
      2. To form in this manner:
      3. To wind or coil (vines or rope, for example) about something.
      1. To form or display little undulations or waves on the surface, as disturbed water does.
      2. To flow with such undulations or waves on the surface.
      3. To rise and fall gently in tone or volume.
      1. A series of connected spirals or concentric rings formed by gathering or winding:
      2. An individual spiral or ring within such a series.
      3. A spiral pipe or series of spiral pipes, as in a radiator.
      1. To move with a twisting or whirling motion; eddy.
      2. To be dizzy or disoriented.
      3. To be arranged in a spiral, whorl, or twist.
      1. To rotate or revolve briskly; swing in a circle; spin:
      2. To twist or wind around:
      3. To move or spin around rapidly, suddenly, or repeatedly:
      1. To twist (the hair, for example) into ringlets or coils.
      2. To form into a coiled or spiral shape:
      3. To decorate with coiled or spiral shapes.
      1. A large wave or swell of water.
      2. A great swell, surge, or undulating mass, as of smoke or sound.
      3. To surge or roll in billows.
      1. To increase in size or volume as a result of internal pressure; expand.
      2. To increase in force, size, number, or degree:
      3. To grow in loudness or intensity:
      1. Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air parallel to or along the ground.
      2. A movement of air generated artificially, as by bellows or a fan.
      3. The direction from which a movement of air comes:
      1. To move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity, as in the manner characteristic of a fluid.
      2. To issue in a stream; pour forth:
      3. To circulate, as the blood in the body.
      1. To move forward along a surface by revolving on an axis or by repeatedly turning over.
      2. To travel or be moved on wheels or rollers:
      3. To travel around; wander:
      1. To rise and move in a billowing or swelling manner.
      2. To roll or be tossed about on waves, as a boat.
      3. To move like advancing waves:

  5. To set hair

Synonym Study

  • Billow is a somewhat poetic or rhetorical term for a great, heaving ocean wave
  • Breaker is applied to such a wave when it breaks, or is about to break, into foam upon the shore or upon rocks
  • Roller is applied to any of the large, heavy, swelling waves that roll in to the shore, as during a storm
  • Ripple is used of the smallest kind of wave, such as that caused by a breeze ruffling the surface of water
  • Wave is the general word for a curving ridge or swell in the surface of the ocean or other body of water
© WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD® ROGET’S A-Z THESAURUS by Charlton Laird and the editors of Webster’s New World dictionaries. Copyright © 1999 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Sentence Examples

  • Jackson felt an intense wave of emotion.

  • He indicated the space behind him with a wave of a hand.

  • Dean asked, with a wave of his hands.

  • A wave of warmth rushed up her neck and broke over her cheeks.

  • On land only the grass and trees wave, but the water itself is rippled by the wind.

More sentences →

Words that mention wave in the Dictionary

Words near wave in the Thesaurus