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
- surface-water adjective
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.
As the atmosphere thinned, the planet cooled and much of its surface water disappeared.
From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026
This challenges earlier assumptions that surface water on Mars would only be possible during extended warm periods.
From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2026
It brought in specialist equipment, including large capacity pumps, to clear a large amount of surface water to enable the work to be carried out.
From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025
The local authority said it would monitor river levels with Sepa, while surface water flooding could also become an issue.
From BBC • Dec. 13, 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.
