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GRE vocabulary

wax

verbHigh-frequency wordMore W words

to grow larger, stronger, or more intense over time

Word origin: From Old English weaxan, to grow.

In a sentence

Wax in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing wax in a sentence.

His influence at the company waxed as older executives retired.

Enthusiasm for the venture waxed steadily as each prototype outperformed the last.

Synonyms
increaseswellintensify
Antonyms
wanediminishshrink
Usage & nuance

Using “wax” well

As a verb, wax means to grow larger, stronger, or more intense over time, drawn from the moon's growing phase. It is the direct opposite of wane, with which it is almost always paired.

Common questions

Questions about “wax

Wax (verb) means to grow larger, stronger, or more intense over time
Here is wax used in an example sentence: "His influence at the company waxed as older executives retired." Another example: "Enthusiasm for the venture waxed steadily as each prototype outperformed the last."
Common synonyms for wax include increase, swell, intensify.
Antonyms of wax include wane, diminish, shrink.
Clusters with increase, swell, and intensify in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms wane, diminish, and shrink mark the opposite, and wane is the inseparable partner term.
Yes. Wax is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.