high tide
Americannoun
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high tides
plural
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the tide at its highest level of elevation.
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the time of high water.
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a culminating point.
the high tide of the revolution.
noun
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the tide at its highest level
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the time at which it reaches this
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a culminating point
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The tide when it is at its highest level at a particular time and place. The highest tides reached under normal meteorological conditions (the spring tides) take place when the Moon and Sun are directly aligned with respect to Earth. High tides are less extreme (the neap tides) when the Moon and Sun are at right angles. Storms and other meteorological conditions can greatly affect the height of the tides as well.
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See more at tide
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The time at which a high tide occurs.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of high tide
before 1000; Middle English; Old English
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Newport Beach, there was a sigh of relief as the high tide began to recede Sunday..
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
Video footage and photos show several streets under water in Newport Beach, California, through a combination of the tropical storm swells at sea and high tide.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Newport Beach expected intense surf Friday, but the high tide turned out to be much worse than the estimates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
"If you're traveling this weekend, give yourself extra time. Check your train, ferry, or flight before you leave, and avoid low-lying coastal roads around high tide," Mamdani said on X.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
“It’s salty at high tide and slimy at low tide, and it’s all we’ve got to drink.”
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
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