waive
gb/wˈeɪv/ us/wˈeɪv/
B2
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
voluntarily give up a right
To say or decide that you will not use a right or benefit that you are allowed to have.
Usage pattern:
to waive [a right/claim/option]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "waive" with "wave" (move your hand to say hello or goodbye). Another mistake is to say "waive to my right" instead of "waive my right"; "waive" takes a direct object, usually a right, claim, or option, not a prepositional phrase.
Synonyms
relinquish (More formal and general; often used for giving up power, control, or ownership, not only legal rights.)
Antonyms
exercise (To use or enforce a right, which is the opposite of choosing not to use it.)
Collocations
waive your right
|waive the right to
|waive her claim
|waive any objections
|waive confidentiality
Themes
law
|business
Examples
- The defendant chose to waive his right to remain silent and spoke to the police.
- By signing this form, you waive any claim against the company for future injuries.
- Employees may waive their right to confidentiality if they want their story to be made public.
- She agreed to waive her right to an attorney during the initial interview.
- Participants are asked to waive any objections to the use of their images in promotional materials.
Learner examples
- He decided to waive his right to a lawyer.
- You can waive your right to a trial and accept the deal.
- By signing here, you waive any claim against the school.
- They asked her to waive her right to complain later.
unknown
B2
action
2
not charge a fee or rule
To decide not to make someone pay a fee or follow a rule that is normally required.
Usage pattern:
to waive [a fee/charge/requirement/rule]
Common mistake:
Learners may say "wave the fee" instead of "waive the fee" because the pronunciation is the same. Another mistake is using "waive" without an object, e.g. "The bank waived" instead of "The bank waived the fee."
Synonyms
cancel (Broader and more general; "cancel" can mean to completely remove something, while "waive" is specifically not applying a charge or rule in a particular case.)
Antonyms
impose (To require someone to pay a fee or follow a rule, which is the opposite of waiving it.)
Collocations
waive the fee
|waive the charge
|waive the requirement
|waive the waiting period
|waive the penalty
Themes
business
|daily life
|law
|finance
Examples
- The bank agreed to waive the late payment fee this month.
- For first-time applicants, the university will waive the application fee.
- The landlord decided to waive the no-pets rule for service animals.
- The company waived the delivery charge because the order was delayed.
- They asked the embassy to waive the visa requirement for short business trips.
Learner examples
- The hotel will waive the parking fee for guests.
- Because it was their mistake, the store waived the extra charge.
- The school may waive this requirement for some students.
- The doctor said they would waive the waiting period for emergencies.
Verb
technical
C2
action
3
remove player so others can claim
In professional sports, to take a player off a team in an official way so that other teams can choose to take that player.
Usage pattern:
to waive [a player]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this means simply "to say goodbye" or "to move the hand" because of confusion with "wave". They may also confuse "waive a player" with "trade a player"; waiving does not guarantee that the player joins another specific team.
Synonyms
release (Similar in sports, but "release" is more general; "waive" is tied to a specific process that allows other teams to claim the player.)
Antonyms
sign (To add a player to a team’s roster, which is the opposite of waiving a player.)
Collocations
waive a player
|was waived by the team
|team waived him
|waived off the roster
Themes
sports
Examples
- The team waived the veteran guard to make room for a younger player.
- He was waived by the club after only one season.
- Several players were waived before the start of the regular season.
- If he clears waivers, the team can assign him to the minor league.
- They decided to waive the injured forward and bring in a new center.
Learner examples
- The team waived the player after the game.
- He was waived by the team last week.
- They may waive him to save money.
- Three players were waived before the new season.
Verb
archaic
C2
action
4
brandish or wave in the air
(Old use) To move something quickly in the air, often as a sign or to show threat.
Usage pattern:
to waive [a sword/hand/banner]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly use this old sense in modern writing instead of the common verb "wave". In contemporary English, you should almost always use "wave" for moving your hand or an object in the air.
Synonyms
brandish (Very close in meaning, especially for weapons; "brandish" is the common modern verb, while this sense of "waive" is now rare or old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
lower (To bring something down instead of moving or holding it up and waving it.)
Collocations
waive his sword
|waive her hand
|waive the banner
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He did waive his sword above his head, crying for battle.
- The knight waived his banner so that his men could see him across the field.
- She waived her handkerchief from the tower as the ships departed.
Learner examples
- He waived his sword in the old story.
- In the poem, the man waived a flag.
- The knight waived his hand to call the soldiers.
Grammar
Dictionary form
waive
IPA
GB/wˈeɪv/
US/wˈeɪv/
Syllables & stress
waive (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (waive)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: waive
- 3rd Person Singular: waives
- Present Participle: waiving
- Past: waived
Word family
Forms
waives
verb
waiving
verb
waived
verb
Core family
waiver
noun B2
Related words
waivable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
non-waivable
adjective
Expressions
waive a fee
1/wˈeɪv ə fˈi/
fixed phrase
not apply a fee
To decide not to make someone pay some fee in one situation.
Examples
- Many companies will waive a fee if you call and ask politely.
- The school may waive a fee for students who cannot afford it.
waive the fee
1/wˈeɪv ðə fˈi/
fixed phrase
decide not to charge a fee
To choose not to make someone pay a particular fee.
Examples
- Because it was their mistake, the bank agreed to waive the fee.
- If you keep a minimum balance, the bank will waive the fee on your account.
waive the requirement
1/wˈeɪv ðə ɹɪkwˈaɪɹmənt/
fixed phrase
not apply a requirement
To decide that someone does not have to follow a specific rule or meet a specific condition.
Examples
- The university may waive the requirement for standardized tests this year.
- In special cases, the company can waive the requirement of two years’ experience.
waive the right to
1/wˈeɪv ðə ɹˈaɪt tə/
fixed phrase
formal
give up the right to do
To officially decide that you will not use your right to do something.
Examples
- By signing this agreement, you waive the right to sue the company.
- He chose to waive the right to appeal the decision.
waive the waiting period
1/wˈeɪv ðə wˈeɪtɪŋ pˈɪɹiəd/
fixed phrase
remove the usual waiting time
To decide that a person does not have to wait for the normal required time before getting something.
Examples
- The insurance company agreed to waive the waiting period for his treatment.
- In emergencies, the clinic may waive the waiting period for new patients.
waive your rights
1/wˈeɪv jˈʊɹ ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
formal
give up your legal rights
To say or accept that you will not use your legal rights in a situation.
Examples
- You should never waive your rights without speaking to a lawyer.
- The officer explained that he did not have to waive his rights if he did not want to.