English Reference
Idiom idiom

wave goodbye


To say goodbye by means of a handwave.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I wave goodbye to my neighbors every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

She stood on the platform and continued to wave goodbye until the train disappeared.

COMPLEX

As the ship slowly pulled away from the harbor, the passengers gathered at the railing to wave goodbye to their families on the shore.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    catch a wave

    To derive benefit from a fortunate opportunity; to experience a sudden increase in energy or luck.

  2. 02

    heat wave

    A period of exceptionally hot weather.

  3. 03

    make waves

    To cause a disturbance.

  4. 04

    ride the crest of the wave

    To go through a period of maximal prosperity.

  5. 05

    ride the wave

    To take advantage of a profitable period.

  6. 06

    say goodbye

    To separate from someone or something.

  7. 07

    wave aside

    To dismiss something without paying much attention to it; to decide something is too unimportant or unnecessary to respond to

  8. 08

    wave away

    To reject or dismiss with a hand gesture.

Last updated August 10, 2026