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 creates a band of access land from the trail to the high water mark, so that means you can leave the trail to go and roam the beaches," Cornish says.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

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

The affected systems already had fairly high water rates before the fires based on their costs of providing service, Pierce said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2025

They managed it, however, drawing the body clear of high water mark.

From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie