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

Since at least 2008, scientists have warned that unchecked groundwater pumping for the city and for agriculture was rapidly draining the country’s aquifers. —Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2025

The rule proposed on Monday narrows the scope of the protections by excluding groundwater and also would not automatically provide protections to interstate waters. —Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 17 Nov. 2025

Cities such as Houston and Dallas are already sinking, due to the depletion of groundwater. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2025

These measures would need to stretch backup groundwater supplies until new water sources come online. —Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 12 Nov. 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