surface water
Americannoun
-
water that accumulates on the surface of the ground, such as during flooding or when the ground becomes saturated.
-
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.
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
Its primary goal is to create the first comprehensive global survey of Earth's surface water, tracking everything from rivers and lakes to ocean features.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
Most of the water supply in northern areas of the UK comes from surface water - reservoirs and rivers.
From BBC ● May 1, 2026
Climate change is heating the ocean from the surface downward, which increases the difference in density between surface water and deeper layers.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 16, 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.
