low water

American  

noun

1. water at its lowest level, as in a river.

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low water British  

noun

1. another name for low tide

2. the state of any stretch of water at its lowest level

3. a situation of difficulty or point of least success, excellence, etc

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Other Word Forms

• low-water
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of low water

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

low water

The Panama Canal Authority said low water levels in the two artificial lakes that feed the canal forced it to act.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

France and Switzerland, too, reduced their nuclear output because of high river temperatures or low water levels.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Check out these maps showing how low water levels on Europe’s great rivers are threatening the continent’s economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Recent data could point to a 6.6% fall in intermediate-goods production—a decent proxy for sensitivity to low water levels—pushing down industrial production by 2.5% over six months, all else being equal, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

A boat would just float there comfortably I supposed, at dead low water.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier