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:
Waves of investments in store brands followed, as retailers tried to make them stronger competitors.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Waves approaching two meters then swept over the beaches.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 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
Waves are not expected to be as big as those that pounded the shore last week and led to the deaths of two people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026
Waves broke over the bows, where bucketfuls of water streamed through the flimsy decking.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
During World War II, Ms. Grumbach served as an officer in the WAVES, the women’s branch of the Navy Reserve.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 7, 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.
