Vocabulary in context
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Waive
To refrain from enforcing a right or claim; to relinquish or forgo something such as a claim, fee, or privilege.
verb💡
Imagine This
Dave is giving up his claim to his car to a second-hand buyer for money he desperately needed. To show how much he would miss his car, he waved goodbye until his car was out of sight.
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Sounds Like
wave
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Looks Like
Looks like 'wave' (the word visually resembles 'wave').
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Remember This
Waive is used to describe voluntarily relinquishing a right or claim; it is not about physically waving a hand. Its related noun is 'waiver'.
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Other Forms
waivernoun
waivesverb
waivingverb
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Note
Commonly used with rights, claims, fees, or penalties (e.g., 'waive a fee', 'waive a right'). Do not confuse with 'wave' (the motion of a hand) or 'waver' (someone who hesitates).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The university decided to waive the application fee for all applicants this year.
- He chose to waive his right to a jury trial.
Synonyms
forgorenouncerelinquishsurrendercede
Antonyms
enforceretainassert
Etymology
From the noun waiver, meaning the act of waiving, from Middle English; origin uncertain but likely related to the sense of waving aside or relinquishing a right.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: Waive sounds like wave—with an extra 'i' to remind you that you are giving up a right (wave goodbye to it).
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Outmoded
adjectiveNo longer in fashion or current; outdated or no longer useful or relevant.
Astute
adjectiveHaving or showing shrewdness and good judgment; perceptive.
Bias
nounA preference or inclination that prevents impartial judgment; a prejudice or leaning toward or against a person, group, or idea.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Renounce
verbTo give up or reject (a claim, right, or position); to abandon.
Surrender
verbTo yield or give up control, possession, or resistance; to submit to someone else's authority or to the outcome.
Concede
verbTo admit that something is true or valid; to yield or grant, especially after negotiation.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
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