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
Examples of tidal in a Sentence
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For example, tidal stresses occur because Europa's orbit around Jupiter is not perfectly circular but rather eccentric, in accordance with Johannes Kepler's first law of orbital motion.
—
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
By removing invasive plants, the estuary’s ecosystem should be able to support tidal mudflats, salt marshes and shallow freshwater habitats that could host a wide diversity of fish and wildlife species, Ed Almanza, the foundation’s vice-chair and program manager, said.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
The idea that the cluster is moving through a tube of its own tidal debris remains a hypothesis and needs to be tested with detailed N-body simulations that can model the cluster’s long-term evolution.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Forecasters say that high astronomical tides Sunday and Monday morning will result in minor tidal overflow at some beaches.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
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Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
By removing invasive plants, the estuary’s ecosystem should be able to support tidal mudflats, salt marshes and shallow freshwater habitats that could host a wide diversity of fish and wildlife species, Ed Almanza, the foundation’s vice-chair and program manager, said.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
The idea that the cluster is moving through a tube of its own tidal debris remains a hypothesis and needs to be tested with detailed N-body simulations that can model the cluster’s long-term evolution.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Forecasters say that high astronomical tides Sunday and Monday morning will result in minor tidal overflow at some beaches.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tidal
Cite this Entry
“Tidal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tidal. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
F. R. Mautz & R. M. HoslerLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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