open water
noun
plural open waters
: water that is clear of obstacles to passage or view : water that is open (see open entry 1 sense 7a)
The word marsh conjures up a mental picture of a soggy, flat area filled with cattails and other herbaceous vegetation, with ducks sitting on patches of open water.—
Robert H. Mohlenbrock
Robert H. Mohlenbrock
often, specifically
: water that is free of ice
When the river froze in the fall, a mile of open water had been left between two mighty jams. —Jack London
Jack London Polynyas were areas of persistent open water, found throughout the circumpolar arctic, places kept ice-free by currents and wind patterns. —David R. Masiel
David R. Masiel Because the penguins feed in the ocean, they typically set up colonies near open water and must establish new nests when the coastline becomes covered in … ice. —Science News
Science News Examples of open water in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cranes fly higher and farther to find a place to spend the winter, and sometimes, geese don't even leave the Madison area because there's still plenty of open water to rely on.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 31 July 2025
Paul Steward, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service San Diego, said people need to stay out of open water and away from beaches, harbors and marinas while the tsunami advisory is in place.
—Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
Assateague State Park averaged over 46 rescues per year from 2017 to 2024, according to data from the United States Lifesaving Association, a nonprofit that represents beach lifeguards and open water rescuers.
—Brendan Nordstrom, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2025
Boaters can set out from the property and sail into Vineyard Harbor and the open waters beyond.
—Mary Forgione, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
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Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 31 July 2025
Paul Steward, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service San Diego, said people need to stay out of open water and away from beaches, harbors and marinas while the tsunami advisory is in place.
—Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
Assateague State Park averaged over 46 rescues per year from 2017 to 2024, according to data from the United States Lifesaving Association, a nonprofit that represents beach lifeguards and open water rescuers.
—Brendan Nordstrom, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2025
Boaters can set out from the property and sail into Vineyard Harbor and the open waters beyond.
—Mary Forgione, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for open water
Cite this Entry
“Open water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20water. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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