wavy
1 Americanadjective
-
curving alternately in opposite directions; undulating.
a wavy course;
wavy hair.
-
abounding in or characterized by waves.
the wavy sea.
-
resembling or suggesting waves.
a cotton material with a wavy pattern.
-
vibrating or tremulous; wavering; unsteady.
noun
adjective
-
abounding in or full of waves
-
moving or proceeding in waves or undulations
-
(of hair) set in or having waves and curls
-
unstable or wavering
Usage
What does wavy mean? Popularized by hip-hop artist Max B, wavy is slang for something "cool," "chill," or "excellent."
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of wavy
Explanation
If something is wavy, it's either very slightly curly, like your sister's wavy hair, or it has a surface or edge that curves back and forth, like the wavy corrugated metal on a barn roof. Anything wavy is in some way composed of waves, whether it's your dog's wavy coat or the wavy surface of Lake Michigan. The adjective can describe an undulating movement or a still, static shape: "The wavy fries just taste better to me than the straight ones." Both wave and wavy stem from the Old English wagian, "to move to and fro."
Vocabulary lists containing wavy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The subterranean Manhattan version is 17,000 square feet—a massive footprint in a famously cramped city—with wavy walls covered in tiles the same green shade as a Swedish princess cake.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Portugal will look wavy in this kit inspired by the Atlantic Ocean, which borders the country.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
Normally stalling storms tend to be dying out, as they pull up cold water from the depths of the ocean and are exposed to wavy, up-and-down winds in the atmosphere tearing them apart.
From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025
The same shimmering effect that makes distant horizons appear wavy on a hot day causes starlight to flicker and distort as it travels through the air.
From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2025
To me, he’s all wavy looking because my eyes have instantly filled with water from the direct hit.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
