he has waved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he has waved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has waved at a specific point in time, often in the context of a completed action that has relevance to the present. Example: "As he walked past the crowd, he has waved to his friends who were cheering for him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He has waved the Brazilian flag, talked with schoolchildren, reporters and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and even found himself lionized in a comic book and toys.

The New York Times

Both groups have long refused any serious negotiations though the ELN recently, for a time, looked more amenable with President Ernesto Samper, though he has waved several olive branches, and has now welcomed Mr Pastrana's efforts.

The Economist

Mr. Kelly offers shades of the astronaut John Glenn, who headed up the Emergency Committee for Gun Control after the shooting deaths of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Political operatives on both sides of the aisle in Arizona widely expect Mr. Kelly to eventually run for office himself, something he has waved off for now.

The New York Times

He has spent his whole life believing himself to be a British subject: He has waved the Union Jack on Empire Day and has tipped his hat at the image of The Queen since his childhood in his native Jamaica.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They included allegations that he had waved shotguns at his wife.

The New York Times

A little earlier, I'd noticed David [Ramos, the photographer] and he had waved at me.

The Guardian - Arts

Faced with the doubts of some of his own staff, he had waved them aside and submitted "Jimmy's World" for the big prize.

The New Yorker

She recognized the bushy hair and the blue shirt, yet for a moment she willed her face to stay expressionless, hoping that Walter would think that he had waved at the wrong woman.

The New Yorker

Yet the captain of the boat that did stop to pick up survivors deflected blame from his colleagues, telling a television interviewer that he had waved away an approaching vessel because his was better equipped to retrieve the survivors.

The New York Times

In the most famous incident she recounted, he had waved his drink at her, demanding, "Who has left a pubic hair on my Coke can?" Testifying after Hill, Thomas vehemently denied the allegations.

The Guardian

Pham Van Binh, a 43-year-old cycle-rickshaw puller, had climbed the bronze statue of General Tran Nguyen Han, a 15th-century warrior who fought Chinese occupation (pictured to the right).He had waved at the crowd and sat on the General's hand, stretching his criminal performance to a good 15 minutes, while as police tried their best to coax him down.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "he has waved" with adverbs to provide more nuance. For example: "He has waved enthusiastically", "he has waved dismissively", etc.

Common error

Avoid using "he has waved" when you need a simple past tense. "He waved" is appropriate for describing a past action without emphasizing its continuing relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he has waved" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates a completed action by a male subject that has some relevance or consequence in the present. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he has waved" is a grammatically sound verb phrase in the present perfect tense, indicating a completed action by a male subject with present relevance. As noted by Ludwig AI, this expression is suitable for neutral to formal registers, predominantly found in news and media contexts. When writing, remember to use it when the past action of waving has a connection to the current situation. Consider alternatives such as "he gestured" or "he signaled" for variations, and avoid using it when simple past tense ("he waved") suffices. Remember to avoid to use "he has waved" in place of "he waved".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he gestured

Changes the specific action from waving to a more general gesture.

he signaled

Replaces "waved" with a synonym emphasizing communication through movement.

he gave a wave

Uses a noun phrase to describe the act of waving.

he offered a wave

Implies a deliberate and polite action of waving.

he lifted his hand in greeting

Replaces a single verb with a descriptive phrase focusing on the purpose.

he acknowledged with a wave

Adds the element of acknowledgement to the waving action.

he greeted with a wave

Specifies that the wave was used as a form of greeting.

he made a waving motion

Shifts focus to the physical movement of waving.

he used a waving gesture

Similar to the previous, but emphasizes the gesture aspect.

he sent a wave

Presents the wave as something sent or directed towards someone.

FAQs

How to use "he has waved" in a sentence?

"He has waved" indicates a completed action in the past that has some relevance to the present. For example, "He has waved to the crowd, and they are now cheering even louder".

What can I say instead of "he has waved"?

You can use alternatives like "he gestured", "he signaled", or "he gave a wave" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "he has waved" or "he waved"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "He waved" is simple past tense, while "he has waved" is present perfect, implying the action has relevance to the present moment.

What's the difference between "he has waved" and "he is waving"?

"He has waved" is in the present perfect tense, indicating a completed action with present relevance, while "he is waving" is present continuous, indicating an action happening now or around now.