tidewater

American  

[tahyd-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈtaɪdˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər /

noun

1. water affected by the flow and ebb of the tide.

2. the water covering tideland at flood tide.

3. seacoast.

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tidewater British  

/ ˈtaɪdˌwɔːtə /

noun

1. water that advances and recedes with the tide

2. water that covers land that is dry at low tide

3. 1. coastal land drained by tidal streams

   2. ( as modifier )

      tidewater regions

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tidewater Scientific  

/ tīd′wô′tər /

1. Water that inundates land at flood tide.

2. Water affected by the tides, especially tidal streams.

3. Low coastal land drained by tidal streams.

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Etymology

Origin of tidewater

First recorded in 1765–75; tide ¹ + water

Example Sentences

As temperatures continue rising around the Antarctic Peninsula, more glaciers are losing their protective ice tongues and becoming tidewater glaciers, meaning their termini rest directly on the seabed.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

Many Antarctic glaciers are tidewater glaciers, meaning they sit on the ocean floor and extend into the sea, where they release icebergs.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

Fish and Wildlife Service’s military conservation partner of the year for its efforts to support the recovery of several species, including the tidewater goby, coastal California gnatcatcher, the arroyo toad and southern California steelhead.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2025

Another endangered fish, northern tidewater gobies, were rescued from the same watershed shortly before the steelhead were liberated.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

Faced with the obvious folly of his original ambition, to walk five hundred miles to tidewater, he reconsidered his plans.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• inlet
• waterway