waver
1 Americanverb (used without object)
-
wavers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
wavered,
past participle, past
-
wavering
present participle
-
to sway to and fro; flutter.
Foliage wavers in the breeze.
-
to flicker or quiver, as light.
A distant beam wavered and then disappeared.
-
become unsteady; begin to fail or give way.
When she heard the news her courage wavered.
-
to shake or tremble, as the hands or voice.
Her voice wavered.
- Synonyms:
- quiver
-
to feel or show doubt, indecision, etc.; vacillate.
He wavered in his determination.
-
(of things) to fluctuate or vary.
Prices wavered.
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to totter or reel.
The earth quaked and the tower wavered.
noun
verb
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to be irresolute; hesitate between two possibilities
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to become unsteady
-
to fluctuate or vary
-
to move back and forth or one way and another
-
(of light) to flicker or flash
noun
Synonym Usage
Waver, fluctuate, vacillate refer to an alternation or hesitation between one direction and another. Waver means to hesitate between choices: to waver between two courses of action. Fluctuate suggests irregular change from one side to the other or up and down: The prices of stocks fluctuate when there is bad news followed by good. Vacillate is to make up one's mind and change it again suddenly; to be undecided as to what to do: We must not vacillate but must set a day.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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waversimple
-
waverssimple
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have waveredperfect
-
has waveredperfect
-
am waveringprogressive
-
are waveringprogressive
-
is waveringprogressive
-
have been waveringperfect progressive
-
has been waveringperfect progressive
Past
-
waveredsimple
-
had waveredperfect
-
was waveringprogressive
-
were waveringprogressive
-
had been waveringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of waver1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English waveren, waferen “to totter, swing”; cognate with Middle High German wabern “to waver,” dialectal German wabern “to move about,” Old Norse vafra “to hover about, roam”; see wave, -er 6
Origin of waver2
Explanation
To waver is to move back and forth, like when you waver, one minute thinking you'll stay home, planning to go meet your friends the next, until you finally make your decision. Waver comes from the Old English word wæfre, which means “restless.” When the wind blows, it makes the leaves and flowers waver, or move, in that same direction. A person who wavers is much the same — affected by any influence or change. He or she isn't sure what to do or may be too shy to express a preference until time is just about up and a decision must be made.
Vocabulary lists containing waver
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List 4
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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.
See Examples For:
“We were not on the same page on offense. The kids didn’t waver and kept fighting.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
An ally concedes: "He has that strong sense of self – but it does waver sometimes."
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Despite fears voiced by some over transporting the ancient artwork, Ricketts did not waver.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
But President Nixon’s resignation, economic stagnation and the Vietnam War had caused Americans’ faith in government to waver.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
It was all I could do not to waver as I stood.
From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz
Walmart stock wavers as fourth-quarter earnings beat expectations but full-year guidance is softer than anticipated.
From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026
My car never tires, panics or wavers; it doesn’t jolt at brake lights or grumble at traffic jams.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
“Investors continue to show low conviction around equities, which I view as a contrarian positive. If conviction wavers easily, then this is a sign that sentiment is not ebullient, ” Lee says.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 17, 2025
But over the course of the novel, the narrator’s certainty wavers, and they begin to recognize that, fundamentally, they are angry about all the same things their dad is.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2025
Meanwhile no Inner Party member wavers for an instant in his mystical belief that the war is real, and that it is bound to end victoriously, with Oceania the undisputed master of the entire world.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Nvidia stock has wavered since breaking through to a record high earlier this week.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Even in his lowest moments, Evan’s humor and instincts never wavered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
The adrenaline-fueled exuberance of Rose's side in the first half appeared to catch up with them in the second, but their desire to compete never wavered.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
His efficiency Wednesday wavered, and he exited after 66 pitches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
The path wavered under Taran’s feet, and he felt desperately cold.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
Nvidia stock was wavering as it outlined investments in European AI start-ups and safety initiatives.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Then wavering confidence in the AI trade took center stage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
And in this strict social classification - known as songbun – the jjaepo belong to the "wavering class", somewhere between the core and hostile classes.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
Shares of Cerebras fell in their second trading day, but have remained higher than the initial offering price, despite wavering analyst confidence that the startup has a place in the AI ecosystem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
He glanced at the moon and its reflection wavering in the lake, the murky green water rippling in uneasy waves.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
