whitewater

¹ American

[hwahyt-waw-ter, -wot-er, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər, ˈwaɪt- /

Or white-water

adjective

of or moving over or through rapids.

whitewater rafting down the Colorado River.

Whitewater ² American

[hwahyt-waw-ter, -wot-er, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər, ˈwaɪt- /

noun

a town in SE Wisconsin.

Etymology

Origin of whitewater

First recorded in 1900–05; from white water

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.

If the commission sets new terms that boost flows, it could open up more of the Kern River’s popular rapids for a longer period each year, bringing a boon to boaters and whitewater rafting businesses.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2025

Yates and other whitewater enthusiasts, including some who run rafting businesses, are demanding changes in the hydroelectric plant’s operations to leave more water in the river.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2025

"It looks like whitewater rapids outside," the 29-year-old said over the phone.

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2024

If you have seen snowboard cross at the Winter Olympics then – yes, that, except in whitewater.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2024

It swirled around him, spinning into a froth of whitewater.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023