geyser

noun

gey·​ser ˈgī-zər How to pronounce geyser (audio)
 British also  ˈgē-zə,
 for sense 1 and usually  for sense 2 ˈgē-zə
1
: a spring that throws forth intermittent jets of heated water and steam
2
British : an apparatus for heating water rapidly with a gas flame (as for a bath)

Did you know?

A hot spring that discharges intermittent jets of steam and water is called a geyser. Geysers are generally associated with recent volcanic activity. They are produced by the heating of underground waters that have come into contact with, or are very close to, magma. Geyser discharges as high as 1,600 ft (500 m) have been recorded, but 160 ft (50 m) is much more common. Occasionally, a geyser will adopt an extremely regular and predictable pattern of intermittent activity and discharge for a few minutes every hour or so (for example, Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park).

Examples of geyser in a Sentence

The water from the geyser rises as high as 75 feet. geysers rising as high as 75 feet The water shot into the sky in an enormous geyser.
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.
The new land is also expected to include a several water elements including a river, waterfalls and geysers, according to Disney's mockup of the site. Grace Harrington, People.com, 6 July 2025 In the early 1900s, long before smartphones and selfie sticks, tourists flocked to Yellowstone National Park—not for the geysers or scenery, but for a grotesque show: a nightly spectacle of grizzly bears raiding cafeteria scraps from open-pit landfills like desperate, starving pirates. Christine Peterson, Wired News, 5 July 2025 In the early 1900s, long before smartphones and selfie sticks, tourists flocked to Yellowstone National Park — not for the geysers or scenery, but for a grotesque show: A nightly spectacle of grizzly bears raiding cafeteria scraps from open-pit landfills like desperate, starving pirates. Christine Peterson, Vox, 27 June 2025 The hot springs and geysers at Yellowstone don’t just present a hazard for wildlife, but for humans, too. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for geyser

Word History

Etymology

Icelandic Geysir, hot spring in Iceland, from geysa to rush forth, from Old Norse; akin to Old English gēotan to pour — more at found

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of geyser was in 1780

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Cite this Entry

“Geyser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geyser. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

geyser

noun
gey·​ser ˈgī-zər How to pronounce geyser (audio)
: a spring that now and then shoots out hot water and steam
Etymology

from Icelandic Geyser "a hot spring in Iceland," from geysa "to rush forth"

More from Merriam-Webster on geyser

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