What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wagged
Example
The dog wagged its tail happily when it saw its owner. [wagged: verb]
Example
The teacher wagged her finger at the student for misbehaving. [wagged: past tense]
wave
Example
She waved at her friend across the street. [wave: verb]
Example
The waves crashed against the shore, creating a soothing sound. [waves: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wave is more commonly used than wag in everyday language. Wave is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while wag is less common and refers to a specific type of movement.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wagged and wave?
Both wag and wave are generally informal words, but wave can be used in more formal contexts, such as waving to a crowd or waving to a dignitary.