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

Those concerns are also felt to the north, in the Kittitas Reclamation District, which serves junior water right holders.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 19, 2023

‘Aoow! You skeeted the water right in my ear. It’s busted my eardrum. I can’t even hear.’

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers