make waves

phrase

: to create a stir or disturbance
… continues to make waves with his unique, highly opinionated approach.—Suzanne Biallot

Examples of make waves in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
South Korean automaker Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis brands have made waves in recent years for modern designs and tech. — Keith Laing, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Trengove previously made waves with The Wound, which debuted at Sundance in 2017 before making it onto the nomination longlist for the Academy Award for the then Best Foreign Language Film category in 2018. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 Dolly Parton may be gone, but her spirit of self-expression is still making waves — this time in a Texas federal court. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 No new phenomenon While Goldin’s methodology can be debated (and indeed, the historian is open to feedback), the research is nevertheless making waves. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for make waves

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of make waves was in 1962

Rhymes for make waves

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Browse Nearby Words

make water
make waves
make way
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Make waves.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20waves. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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