Waive vs wave
Waive is a verb that means to give up a right or to agree not to charge a fee. Wave means to move your hand from side to side, and a wave is also a moving ridge of water.
waive verb
To choose to give up a right or claim, or to agree not to charge a fee someone would normally pay.
- The defendant agreed to waive his right to a jury trial.
- The bank will waive the monthly fee if you keep enough money in your account.
wave verb
To move your hand from side to side to say hello or goodbye.
- He waved to the crowd as he stepped onto the stage.
- The children wave goodbye every time the train pulls away.
Watch out
- The two words sound exactly the same, so only the meaning tells you which spelling to use.
- Wave is also a noun for a raised line of moving water, or for a sudden rise in a feeling or a trend.A wave of nostalgia hit her when the old song played.
- Waive once meant to swing from side to side, but that use is obsolete. Today, when you mean moving something back and forth, the spelling is always wave.The referee waved a red card above his head.
Test yourself
The hotel agreed to blank the fee for our late checkout.
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waive. The hotel chooses not to charge money that would normally be owed.
Remember to blank to Grandma as the car drives away.
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wave. You move your hand to say goodbye.
By signing the form, you blank your right to a refund.
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waive. Signing the form means giving up a right.
The surfers waited for a big blank to come in.
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wave. Surfers ride a raised line of moving water.