Phrase guide

make waves

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause a disturbance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To upset the status quo.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see make, wave.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Derived from disruptions caused by waves in water.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: aiheuttaa kuohuntaa — To cause a disturbance
  • French: faire des vagues — To cause a disturbance
  • Polish: robić zamieszanie — To cause a disturbance
  • Polish: zrobić zamieszanie — To cause a disturbance
  • Russian: причиня́ть беспоко́йство (pričinjátʹ bespokójstvo) — To cause a disturbance
  • Russian: наруша́ть споко́йствие (narušátʹ spokójstvije) — To cause a disturbance
  • Spanish: malmeter — To cause a disturbance
  • Spanish: malquistar — To cause a disturbance
  • Polish: robić zamieszanie — To upset the status quo
  • Polish: zrobić zamieszanie — To upset the status quo
  • Spanish: hacer olas — To upset the status quo
  • Spanish: causar ondas — To upset the status quo