Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of waxing
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at wax 1, -ing 1
Compare meaning
How does waxing compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Vocabulary lists containing waxing
Space Science (Astronomy) - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Moon – Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Moon - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 index has seen some wild moves this week -- including Tuesday's 10 percent drop -- amid waxing and waning optimism over the AI boom.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
Online influencer Aniessa Navarro said she felt sick when she realised during a personal waxing session that her technician was wearing Meta's glasses.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
The “common beat of time did not have a precise and absolute standard”; instead, days stretched and shrank with the waxing and waning of the year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
I never would have noticed if Sarah hadn’t practiced eyebrow waxing on me last summer.
From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen
![]()
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.