as in ponds
a large area of water that is surrounded by land
They own a cottage on the lake. the shores of the lake
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Recent Examples of lakes
One landscape preserves traces of surface water in lakes and rivers; the other exposes the mineral fingerprints of groundwater moving through rock.
—
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 May 2026
Best swimsuit color for visibility ALIVE Solutions, also on Facebook as Aquatic Safety Connection, tested different colored swimsuits in pools and lakes, and in both calm and agitated waters.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Ramp closings are posted for other lakes on the Catawba chain.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026
Luckily, Charlotte is located within a short drive of some of North and South Carolina’s best college towns, underrated destinations, lakes, and even a national forest.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Between its streams, lakes, wetlands and floodplains, roughly a fifth of Lake County is covered by surface water, a proportion that likely increased slightly over the last month after multiple heavy rain events.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In fjord country, even the lakes are long, narrow and bottomless.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
Along the way, hikers are treated to views of glacial lakes, waterfalls, and wildflowers.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Unlike freshwater lakes, which drain through rivers or streams, salt lakes have no outlet to the sea.
—Rosa Lyster, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 May 2026
Best swimsuit color for visibility ALIVE Solutions, also on Facebook as Aquatic Safety Connection, tested different colored swimsuits in pools and lakes, and in both calm and agitated waters.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Ramp closings are posted for other lakes on the Catawba chain.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2026
Luckily, Charlotte is located within a short drive of some of North and South Carolina’s best college towns, underrated destinations, lakes, and even a national forest.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Between its streams, lakes, wetlands and floodplains, roughly a fifth of Lake County is covered by surface water, a proportion that likely increased slightly over the last month after multiple heavy rain events.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In fjord country, even the lakes are long, narrow and bottomless.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
Along the way, hikers are treated to views of glacial lakes, waterfalls, and wildflowers.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Unlike freshwater lakes, which drain through rivers or streams, salt lakes have no outlet to the sea.
—Rosa Lyster, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lakes
Noun
-
Families with young children, choose beach villas facing shallow island lagoons.—
Shradha Shahani,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The five-member committee oversees preservation and enhancement of the San Dieguito and Los Penasquitos lagoons, according to a council agenda report.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cruising through one of the park’s 22 larger lochs is essential; several tour operators, including Cruise Loch Lomond and Sweeney’s Cruise Co, sail from ports around the park.—
Andrea Bussell,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The mammals thrive across habitats from inland rivers and lochs to rugged coastal environments.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This interactive project looks at the impact of warmer, shorter winters on regions all over the country, from less ice fishing in Minnesota and fewer ski days in Colorado to drying reservoirs in the Southwest and more ticks and mosquitoes in the Northeast.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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These are complex reservoirs with a lot of subsurface dynamics, so those have to be brought back carefully.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lakes. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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