high-water

1 of 2

adjective

high-wa·​ter ˈhī-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce high-water (audio)
-ˌwä-
: unusually short
high-water pants

high water

2 of 2

noun

: a high stage of the water in a river or lake

Examples of high-water in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
Floodwaters breached levees, triggered evacuations for nearly 400 homes, prompted multiple boil-water advisories, and caused at least 11 high-water rescues by local first responders. Christa Swanson, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025 The war may have been a high-water mark of journalism, but the channel was narrow. Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
Noun
While walking along the shoreline of Lake Superior, Orr noticed the items leaning against a tree trunk, possibly created by high water surf during the storm that sank the ship north of Whitefish Bay. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 19 Dec. 2025 The site was identified as early as 1901 by the German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt --known for his 1912 discovery of the famous bust of ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti -- but a high water table prevented any excavation at the time. CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for high-water

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of high-water was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“High-water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-water. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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