rip current

American  

noun

1. undertow.

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rip current Scientific  

1. A strong, narrow surface current that flows rapidly away from the shore. Rip currents form when excess water that has accumulated along a shore due to wind and waves rushes back suddenly to deeper waters.

2. Also called rip tide

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Etymology

Origin of rip current

First recorded in 1935–40

Compare meaning

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

• riptide vs. rip current

Example Sentences

The National Weather Service warned California beachgoers on Wednesday to stay out of the water due to hazardous swimming conditions as rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea.

From Los Angeles Times

Although it did not make direct landfall it did produce dangerous rip currents and large surf which kept beaches closed and led to evacuations in some areas.

From BBC

Two miles away in Ocean Beach, a surfer alerted the lifeguard tower that a dog had been swept into a rip current and was drifting out to sea.

From Los Angeles Times

There is also an increased risk of drowning from large breakers, strong rip currents and dangerous waves on rocks through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.

From Los Angeles Times

Signs on the way to the beach warn about rip currents.

From The Wall Street Journal