running water

noun

: water distributed through pipes and fixtures
a cabin with hot and cold running water

Examples of running water in a Sentence

a cabin with hot and cold running water
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.
Many of the port city's roughly 58,000 households were still without running water or power on Thursday, two days since the quake hit Kumamoto prefecture killing at least 25 people. — USA Today, 30 July 2026 An inspector received an emergency notification that there was no running water. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026 Nearly 34,900 homes were still without electricity and some 15,000 homes without running water, Kumamoto officials said. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 About 30 seconds under running water, while gently rubbing the produce with your hands, does far more than a passive soak. — Angela Haupt, Time, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for running water

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of running water was in 1856

Rhymes for running water

See All Rhymes for running water

Browse Nearby Words

running walk
running water
running wheel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Running water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/running%20water. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of spindrift

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All