water right

American  

noun

1. the right to make use of the water from a particular stream, lake, or irrigation canal.

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water right British  

noun

1. the right to make use of a water supply, as for irrigation

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Etymology

Origin of water right

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water right

"We are running out of water right across the UK," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2025

“We had people in the water right up until sunset,” she says.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 17, 2023

“For more than 100 years, there have been horrifying observations of terrestrial insects jumping into water right before our eyes all over the world,” he says.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 19, 2023

These senior water right holders, with claims dating to before 1914, use roughly a third of the water that is diverted, on average, from the state’s rivers and streams.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2023

I wasn’t scared, like I was when the water-zombie kid on the beach was trying to suck the water right out of Alyssa’s mouth.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman