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

Ilya Espino de Marotta takes over as low water restricts shipping and drives auction prices to a record $5.3 million.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

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

The central bank had, however, previously warned that heatwaves would temporarily slow the economy over the summer, particularly as low water levels hinder river transport including through the Rhine River.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

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

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier