Waves
noun
the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Naval Reserve, the distinct force of women enlistees in the U.S. Navy, organized during World War II.
Waves
American
[weyvz]
/ weɪvz /
Or
WAVES
noun
(used with a singular or plural verb)
WAVES
British
/ weɪvz /
acronym
Etymology
Origin of Waves
1942; W(omen) A(ccepted for) V(olunteer) E(mergency) S(ervice)
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:
Bannister’s career spanned from his screen debut in Coscarelli’s first feature “Jim the World’s Greatest” in 1975 to his final role in “Killer Waves 2” in 2020” and was primarily composed of independent productions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
David Williams told BBC documentary Our Lives: Beyond the Waves it was the hardest decision of his life "but it was the only way to save" his son's life.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Video released by the US-based NGO Beneath The Waves shows one orca holding the tail of a sunfish, with its fellow whale then charging with full force into the rotund mola, which explodes into pieces.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Waves of xenophobia had swept the nation at the turn of the century following a massive surge of immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.
From Salon ● May 26, 2026
Waves of heat shimmered above the stone walls, and the granite sparkled.
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
They were code breakers in the Navy’s program called Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 11, 2022
During World War II, Ms. Grumbach’s husband was drafted and she joined the Naval Women’s Reserve, commonly known as the WAVES, an acronym for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.
From New York Times ● Nov. 5, 2022
However, for Hannah and organisations like WAVES, the battle has been not only about changing the hearts and minds of the country's leaders, but also within the wider community itself.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2020
During the cross-country trek, Nelson had fun hearing about her new friends’ hometowns and lives before joining the WAVES.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 10, 2014
But he only said, "I remember your college well. I was up there, during the war. They had a WAC station, didn't they? Or was it WAVES?"
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
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.
