groundwater

noun

ground·​wa·​ter ˈgrau̇nd-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: water within the earth especially that supplies wells and springs

Examples of groundwater in a Sentence

There were concerns about contaminated groundwater.

Recent Examples on the Web

While most of the untreated water released during an overflow is a mix of groundwater and water from the storm sewers rushing right out of the system, there is a chance of bacteria flowing into the bodies of water that receive releases. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Vegetation also slowly returned to the land, and Pompeii’s post-eruption inhabitants dug wells to reach groundwater beneath the ash coating the city, the study authors said. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025

In fact, the biggest factor in continental drying is groundwater loss, the study found — the primary driver of which is our own mismanagement. —Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025

The pumps lower groundwater levels, reducing the potential for landslides to occur. —Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for groundwater

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• headwater
• manslaughter

Kids Definition

groundwater

noun

ground·​wa·​ter ˈgrau̇n-ˌdwȯt-ər 

-ˌdwät-

: water within the earth that supplies wells and springs