waver
waver — verb
- waverpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wavershe / she / it
- waveredpast simple
- wavering-ing form
1. to lose strength or determination when facing difficulty or pressure — for examp
to lose strength or determination when facing difficulty or pressure — for example, feeling your confidence drop before an exam or doubting a commitment when others challenge you.
Diego's confidence wavered when he saw the size of the exam hall.
confidence/resolve + waver (meaning lose strength)
Even after the layoffs, the team's loyalty to their manager never wavered.
never wavered (steadfastness)
Minister Karim's commitment to reform wavered after the pushback from his party.
Public trust in the credit union wavered after the branch manager was arrested for fraud.
Amara's resolve wavered for a moment, but then she continued running.
- strengthen
gaining power or determination
- firm up
becoming more resolute
文法句型
waver at [something]
waver under [pressure]
never waver
waver in [resolve/commitment]
用法筆記
Frequently used with nouns such as confidence, resolve, commitment, loyalty, or support as the subject. Often negated (never waver, did not waver) to emphasise steadfastness.
常見錯誤
2. to be unable to decide between two or more possibilities, going back and forth b
to be unable to decide between two or more possibilities, going back and forth between them — for example, choosing between two job offers or deciding which phone to buy.
Wei wavered between studying medicine and pursuing music for several months.
waver between [two choices]
The council wavered over whether to approve the new housing project.
waver over [decision]
Nadia wavered about accepting the transfer to another office branch.
For weeks Kenji wavered on which university to attend after graduation.
文法句型
waver between [two choices]
waver over [decision]
waver on [issue]
waver about [plan]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or group with a choice to make. The preposition changes depending on the object: waver between (two named options), waver over (a decision or question), waver on (an issue or stance), waver about (a plan or course of action).
常見錯誤
3. to move back and forth or shake slightly without a steady rhythm — for example,
to move back and forth or shake slightly without a steady rhythm — for example, a candle flame moving in a breeze, a voice trembling with emotion, or a hand shaking from nervousness.
The candle flame wavered in the breeze coming through the window.
flame/light waver (physical movement)
Yuki's handwriting wavered as the train rattled along the old track.
A shadow wavered across the living-room wall as the wind moved the curtain.
Emma's voice wavered when she spoke about her grandmother's garden.
文法句型
[flame/light/shadow] waver
[voice/hand] waver
waver in [breeze/wind]
用法筆記
Subject is typically something physical (flame, light, shadow, hand, voice) that moves irregularly. When used of a voice, the wavering is usually caused by emotion, nervousness, or age — distinguish from sense 1, where wavering is about losing courage.
waver — noun
1. a moment of hesitation, loss of strength, or unsteady movement — usually the res
a moment of hesitation, loss of strength, or unsteady movement — usually the result of doubt, fear, or physical instability.
After a brief waver, Elena signed the contract without further hesitation.
brief waver (moment of hesitation)
There was a slight waver in Oliver's voice when he mentioned the accident.
waver in voice (trembling)
The soldier showed no waver in his loyalty during the difficult mission.
Ingrid noticed a waver in the light as the truck passed the window.
- hesitation
focuses on the delay, not the loss of strength
- faltering
suggests a stumble or break in continuity
- tremor
specifically for sound or physical vibration
- steadiness
stability without movement
- resolve
firmness of purpose
文法句型
a waver in [something]
without a waver
[adjective] waver
用法筆記
Most often used with a modifier (brief waver, slight waver, no waver) to describe the extent of hesitation or instability. The preposition in introduces the thing that is wavering (voice, loyalty, beam of light).
2. a person who waves their hand or a flag as a signal or greeting.
a person who waves their hand or a flag as a signal or greeting.
The only waver on the platform was an old woman with a small green flag.
noun waver = person waving
A crowd of wavers lined the street as the Olympic torch passed by.
The wavers on the dock called out greetings as the cruise ship edged into port.
Among the wavers at the airport arrivals gate, Hana spotted her grandmother's red scarf first.
文法句型
[adjective] waver
waver at [event]
用法筆記
Uncommon in everyday speech. More often expressed as a phrase (people waving, someone waving a flag) rather than the single noun waver. The plural form wavers appears in descriptions of crowds or ceremonial settings.