low tide

American  

noun

• low tides
  plural

1. the tide at the point of maximum ebb.

2. the time of low water.

3. the lowest point of decline of anything.

   His spirits were at low tide.

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low tide British  

noun

1. the tide when it is at its lowest level or the time at which it reaches this

2. a lowest point

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low tide Scientific  

1. The tide at its lowest level at a particular time and place. The lowest tides reached under normal meteorological conditions (the spring tides) take place when the Moon and Sun are directly aligned with respect to Earth. Low tides are less extreme when the Moon and Sun are at right angles (the neap tides). Storms and other meteorological conditions can greatly affect the height of the tides as well.

2. See more at tide

3. The time at which a low tide occurs.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• low tides
  plural

Etymology

Origin of low tide

First recorded in 1860–65

Compare meaning

How does low-tide compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• high tide vs. low tide

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

low tide

“Lumpy close-out with hollow barrels with low tide, fam.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

The craft of scavenging the River Thames for lost relics at low tide has surged in popularity, leaving more than 10,000 hopeful treasure hunters stuck on a permit waitlist.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Today, the island can only be reached at low tide - and people are advised to check the tide times before journeying over.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

"However, the same cannot be said for intertidal systems" such as salt marshes and mudflats that line the coast and are exposed at low tide, he added.

From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026

The only time any of their buildings showed was at low tide.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi