waterfall

American  

[waw-ter-fawl, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌfɔl, ˈwɒt ər- /

noun

• waterfalls
  plural

1. a steep fall or flow of water in a watercourse from a height, as over a precipice; cascade.

2. a manner of arranging women's hair, as in long, loose waves.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to a philosophy of product development and production that includes sequential stages, from conception and design through testing and implementation, resulting in one finalized version of the product: waterfall management;

   waterfall development;

   waterfall management;

   a waterfall model.

waterfall British  

/ ˈwɔːtəˌfɔːl /

noun

1. a cascade of falling water where there is a vertical or almost vertical step in a river

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• waterfalls
  plural

Etymology

Origin of waterfall

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English wætergefeall. See water, fall

Explanation

A natural area where a river or stream cascades over a high precipice and pours down is called a waterfall. If you like to go canoeing down the river, make sure you stop before you get to that waterfall! The word waterfall comes from its Old English precursor, wætergefeall. It's a beautifully simple description of exactly what a waterfall is — water that falls continuously from a height, either in a river's course or over the edge of an iceberg. Waterfalls are most common in steep mountain rivers, but there are many smaller waterfalls as well. The world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela, is over 3,000 feet high.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waterfall waterfalls

Ranch activities include hurtling through agility courses, swimming beneath a massive artificial waterfall and roaming sprawling fantasy playgrounds built expressly for their entertainment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

“And selling could beget selling. It could be a waterfall event.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

"My garden, I always think is, is a haven of serenity and tranquillity for people," she said, adding that her favourite spot was the waterfall and pond.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Dramatic video footage obtained by TMZ shows the boy falling headfirst down the ride’s 50-foot-tall waterfall just behind the flume that he had exited.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

‘An elemental comes into being when something hugely powerful dies -something like a waterfall or an ice river -and its souls are scattered. An elemental is the strongest demon of all.’

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Kanisius and his master Umbu Ana Rara, 31, who is three years younger than him, live in the village of Tenggedu, whose turquoise waterfalls draw intrepid tourists looking for a "hidden tropical paradise".

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

A sub-range of the Appalachian Mountains along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the Smokies are known for hiking trails with waterfalls and scenic outlooks.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

In the most commanding painting of this section, Jeong Seon’s “Clearing After Rain on Mt. Inwang” from 1751, roiling clusters of dark hills are split by hidden ravines and jutting waterfalls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

If you take a long hike, you’ll see waterfalls and lots of wildlife.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

After two days, Kermit and the men managed to maneuver three canoes down five of the waterfalls.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple