high tide

American  

noun

• high tides
  plural

1. the tide at its highest level of elevation.

2. the time of high water.

3. a culminating point.

   the high tide of the revolution.

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high tide British  

noun

1. 1. the tide at its highest level

   2. the time at which it reaches this

2. a culminating point

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high tide Scientific  

1. 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.

2. See more at tide

3. The time at which a high tide occurs.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• high tides
  plural

Etymology

Origin of high tide

before 1000; Middle English; Old English

Compare meaning

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

• high tide vs. low tide

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

high tide

“Significant beach erosion will occur. Flooding of sea water is likely, around the time of high tide, over vulnerable low-lying coastal areas such as parking lots, beaches, walkways, and low-lying roads.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Contributing to the high tide are both unusually warm ocean temperatures and accumulated sea level rise, the weather service said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

The US West Coast is more at risk of high tide flooding.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

The newly discovered tracks lie in the modern intertidal zone, where they are covered by seawater at high tide twice a day.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2026

“The depths aren’t right. This should be an island, at least at high tide it is.”

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

Related Words

• high water