In a waveform measurement method, first, initial pulsed light is spatially dispersed for respective wavelengths. Next, the initial pulsed light is input to a polarization dependent type SLM in a state where a polarization plane is inclined with respect to a modulation axis direction, and a phase spectrum of a first polarization component of the initial pulsed light along the modulation axis direction is modulated, to cause a time difference between first pulsed light Lp1 including the first polarization component and second pulsed light Lp2 including a second polarization component orthogonal to the first polarization component. After combining the wavelength components, an object is irradiated with the pulsed light Lp1 and the pulsed light Lp2, and light generated in the object is detected. The above detection operation is performed while changing the time difference, and a temporal waveform of the pulsed light Lp1 is obtained.