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
Derived 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.
These systems, scattered across Altadena, “pose significant risks of groundwater contamination, surface water pollution and potential public health hazards,” according to a statement from the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
The surface water temperature on Wednesday was 68.5 degrees — 7.7 degrees above average for the date.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
The Met Office added: "This is expected to lead to some surface water and river flooding across the area."
From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026
The defining feature of these hot spots is not just warm surface water, but unusually deep layers of heat beneath the surface.
From Science Daily • Dec. 25, 2025
He washed his face in the water; the surface water was still warm, so he plunged his hands deep into the cool layer above the yellow sand.
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
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.
