“Waist” or “Waste”—Which to use?

“Waist” or “Waste”

Overview

waist / waste are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

waist: (noun) the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips.

waste: (noun) any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted. (noun) useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly. (noun) (law) reduction in the value of an estate caused by act or neglect. (verb) spend thoughtlessly; throw away. (verb) use inefficiently or inappropriately. (verb) get rid of. (verb) run off as waste. (verb) cause to grow thin or weak. (verb) become physically weaker.

Pronunciation

waist: w·EY·s·t

waste: w·EY·s·t

Trends

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Examples in Context

Examples of “waist”

…unserrated, and had a constricted "waist" between the crown and the
…that reaches the batsman between waist and head height, being dangerous…
…games, is paralyzed from the waist down after a suicide attempt…
…the air, which detonates at waist level, increasing the blast radius…
…the illusion of a small waist, using proportion, stripe placement, and
Wasp waist
…and left paralyzed from the waist down.
…close-ups of her from the waist up captured by television cameras…
…blocker due to his chronic waist injuries.
…both a sting and a 'waist' (i.e.

Examples of “waste”

…operation, and to be "completely waste free from the ground up".
As the waste fills the rectum and expands…
Bodgers also sold their waste product as kindling, or as…
Waste material, such as dead nestmates,…
A display shows visitors waste disposal methods from medieval castles…
…company was illegally dumping toxic waste into a mining cavern, harmless…
…ban on letting out toilet waste into the surrounding water.
…and produce meconium (a metabolic waste product expelled through the anal…
…were used in 1864 as waste paper and the remaining few…
…accelerator driven systems for nuclear waste incineration estimated that the ESS…

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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