Waive vs. Wave

Waive and wave sound exactly the same, but their meanings couldn’t be more different. One is about giving something up, and the other is about movement or the ocean — easy to mix up if you're not careful!

Waive

Waive means to give up a right, claim, rule, or requirement. You “waive” something when you decide it won't apply.

• The bank agreed to waive the fees.
• You can waive your right to a lawyer.
• They waived the registration requirement this year.

Wave

Wave has two common meanings: moving your hand back and forth, or the large moving water you see at the beach.

• She waved at me from across the street.
• The waves were huge during the storm.
• He gave a quick wave before leaving.