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 flaring was so extreme that the team had to rule out a tidal disruption event (TDE) as the cause. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Near San Jose, lagoon and tidal marsh habitat along with Champion Station passenger rail station, VTA and Amtrak passenger rail lines, Union Pacific freight rail line, and truck traffic on Highway 237 will see impacts. — Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026

Flooding from the surge can vary greatly over short distances depending on the timing of the surge and tidal cycle. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

The medieval abbey of Normandy’s Mont Saint-Michel, a tidal island only accessible at certain times each day, stretched from the lapping waves as though reaching for Heaven. — Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026

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
• bactericidal
• insecticidal

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