high-water

1 of 2

adjective

high-wa·​ter ˈhī-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce high-water (audio)
-ˌwä-
: unusually short
high-water pants

high water

2 of 2

noun

: a high stage of the water in a river or lake
also : high tide sense 1

Examples of high-water in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Last year’s Carabao Cup win was meant to be the start of something, not the high-water mark. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 The town had to bring high-water rescue vehicles to usher 11 kids and staff at Kiddie University Daycare to safety. — Christina Fan, CBS News, 29 July 2026
Noun
Yellowstone, for example, has restricted fishing due to high water temperatures during five of the past six years. — Matthew Brown, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 Yellowstone, for example, has restricted fishing due to high water temperatures during five of the last six years. — Matthew Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high-water

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-water was in the 15th century

Rhymes for high-water

See All Rhymes for high-water

Browse Nearby Words

high-warp
high-water
high water
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-water. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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