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

The company's incident manager, Matthew Dean, said tankers were continuing to pump water into the network in the Bidenborough area to keep supplies flowing to 320 properties which had low water levels.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

A paved path, exposed at low water, allows easy access but this is covered at high tide.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

The six-foot deep pothole had been filling with water for years, even causing low water pressure in nearby houses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

While firefighters struggled with low water pressure during the Palisades fire, it’s unclear whether the damaged hydrants played a role.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2025

It was dead low water now, and the ship was heeled at an angle, the propeller showing clean.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier