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
Still, the Valkyries set a new franchise record for bench points in a game (54) and set a new high-water mark for margin of victory in a road game this season. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 The high-water mark for freshman snaps under Freeman (2,999) came during the 2024 season, when Notre Dame played in the national championship game. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
The centers require intense cooling, which often demands high water and power use and creates the potential to affect the environment and to pass on utility costs to consumers. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The mysterious glade is actually likely a piece of land that broke off from the reservoir’s shoreline as a result of record-high water levels this year. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 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 7 Sep. 2026.

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