tidal

adjective

tid·​al ˈtī-dᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, caused by, or having tides

tidal cycles

tidal erosion

b

: periodically rising and falling or flowing and ebbing

tidal waters

2

: dependent (as to the time of arrival or departure) upon the state of the tide

a tidal steamer

tidally

ˈtī-dᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of tidal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The project includes the removal of the weir to restore tidal saltwater flushing to the 220-acre lagoon, along with native plants and wildlife. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025

San Francisco Bay has risen by 8 inches in the past 100 years, according to the tidal gauge at Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge and other instruments. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025

Stars are seen to be forming within the Magellanic Stream, and similar bridges and tidal tails are known to be hot-spots of star formation elsewhere in the universe. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2025

Some gather in dense flocks during migration and non-breeding season, feeding on tiny organisms that abound on tidal flats. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tidal

• tidal wave

Rhymes for tidal

• bridal
• bridle
• idle
• idol
• idyll
• seidel
• sidle
• widal
• apsidal
• subtidal
• fratricidal
• fungicidal

Kids Definition

tidal

adjective

tid·​al ˈtīd-ᵊl 

: of or relating to tides : rising and falling or flowing and ebbing at regular times

Medical Definition

tidal

adjective

tid·​al ˈtīd-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or constituting tidal air

interference with the normal tidal exchange of the lungs

—F. R. Mautz & R. M. Hosler