waive

UK: /ˈweɪv/ US: /weɪv/ ,(wāv)

Inflections of 'waive' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

waives

v 3rd person singular

waiving

v pres p

waived

v past

waived

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

waive /weɪv/   v. [~ + object] , waived, waiv•ing. 

1. Law to give up (a right) on purpose or willingly:
   waived his right to appeal the decision.
2. to decide not to enforce or insist on (a rule or regulation):
   The department waived the normal requirements.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

waive  (wāv), v.t., waived, waiv•ing. 

1. to refrain from claiming or insisting on;
   give up;
   forgo:
   to waive one's right;
   to waive one's rank;
   to waive honors.
2. Law to relinquish (a known right, interest, etc.) intentionally.
3. to put aside for the time;
   defer;
   postpone;
   dispense with:
   to waive formalities.
4. to put aside or dismiss from consideration or discussion:
   waiving my attempts to explain.

• Anglo-French weyver to make a waif (of someone) by forsaking or outlawing (him or her)
• Middle English weyven 1250–1300

Synonyms

• 1. resign, renounce, surrender, remit.

Antonyms

• 1. demand.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

waive / weɪv/ verb (transitive)

1. to set aside or relinquish: to waive one's right to something
2. to refrain from enforcing (a claim) or applying (a law, penalty, etc)
3. to defer

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Northern French weyver, from waif abandoned; see waif