high water

American  

noun

1. water at its greatest elevation, as in a river.

2. high tide.

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high water British  

noun

1. another name for high tide

2. the state of any stretch of water at its highest level, as during a flood

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Etymology

Origin of high water

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

It was the high water mark of their relationship.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

In retrospect, it’s easy why pundits have pegged this conference as the high water mark for Moms for Liberty’s influence.

From Salon • Jan. 20, 2026

Still, many neighbourhoods have been flooded, and some are now isolated from the rest of the country after roads and bridges were cut by the high water levels.

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2025

These contracts are signed in advance of a drought and can provide both cost savings and high water supply reliability for cities, which can use them to quickly acquire water from irrigators during dry periods.

From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2024

The discovery of carbon-14 was the high water mark of Kamen s career in the Rad Lab; its publication was the beginning of his painful journey out of Lawrence’s good graces.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik