Sound-alike words
Waist vs. Waste
Your waist is the middle of your body, between your ribs and hips, or that part of a piece of clothing. Waste means to use something carelessly, or the material left over and thrown away.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| waist | noun | the narrower middle part of the body between the ribs and hips, or that part of clothing |
| waste | verb | to use something carelessly or without getting much value from it |
| noun | careless use of something, or unwanted material that is thrown away |
Waist
noun: the narrower middle part of the body between the ribs and hips, or that part of clothing
- These pants are a little loose at the waist.
- Tie the apron around your waist before you start cooking.
Waste
verb: to use something carelessly or without getting much value from it
- Don't waste water while brushing your teeth.
- We wasted an hour looking for a parking spot.
noun: careless use of something, or unwanted material that is thrown away
- The factory recycles most of its plastic waste.
- That meeting was a complete waste of time.
How to remember the difference
Waist has an I: I wear a belt around my waist. Waste rhymes with paste, and squeezing out too much toothpaste is a waste.
Good to know
Waistline, waistband and waistcoat (an older word for a vest) all use waist. Wasteland, wastebasket and wasteful all use waste.
Spot the mistake
This dress is too tight around the
waste.waist.Correct: This dress is too tight around the waist.
Turn off the lights so we don't
waistwaste electricity.Correct: Turn off the lights so we don't waste electricity.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. The belt was too long for his , so he punched a new hole.
Answer: waist. This is the middle part of the body, where a belt goes, so it is waist.
2. Try not to paper by printing every email.
Answer: waste. This means to use something carelessly, so the verb is waste.