How to pronounce waste
Say it like WAYST. Waste is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce waste. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAYST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waste pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAYSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of waste
American and British speakers say waste in essentially the same way: /weɪst/ in the US and /weɪst/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAYST.
What does waste mean?
- any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted“they collect the waste once a week”“much of the waste material is carried off in the sewers”
- useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly“if the effort brings no compensating gain it is a waste”“mindless dissipation of natural resources”
- the trait of wasting resources“a life characterized by thriftlessness and waste”“the wastefulness of missed opportunities”
- spend thoughtlessly; throw away“He wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends”“You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree”
- use inefficiently or inappropriately“waste heat”“waste a joke on an unappreciative audience”
- get rid of“We waste the dirty water by channeling it into the sewer”
- located in a dismal or remote area; desolate“a desert island”“a godforsaken wilderness crossroads”
Where does waste come from?
From Middle English wast, waste (“a waste”, noun), from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French wast, waste (“a waste”), from Frankish *wōstī (“a waste”), from Proto-Germanic *wōstaz, *wōstuz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“empty, wasted”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with waste
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of waste.
Words that sound like waste
Questions about saying waste
How do you pronounce waste?
Say WAYST. The American pronunciation is /weɪst/. In British English it is /weɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in waste?
Waste is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WAYST.
Do Americans and Brits say waste the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /weɪst/ and the British form is /weɪst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as waste?
Waste sounds the same as waist in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.