surface water
Americannoun
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water that accumulates on the surface of the ground, such as during flooding or when the ground becomes saturated.
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the water of lakes, rivers, streams, etc., as opposed to groundwater.
Other Word Forms
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On the West Coast, upwelling occurs when seasonal winds push warm surface water offshore, allowing deep, cold, nutrient-rich water to rise to the surface.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Communities and water users in both New Mexico and Texas depend on surface water and groundwater throughout the valley.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026
The following maps show the change in surface water from this time last year: The less water, the lighter the colors seen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
And a 2016 US government study found perchlorate, an oxidizing agent used in fireworks, had made its way into groundwater and surface water around Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which holds annual July 4 shows.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
In the middle of the hamlet I came upon a well whose surface water lay thick with clotted scum.
From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
