hydroelectric
adjective
hy·dro·elec·tric
ˌhī-drō-i-ˈlek-trik 
: of or relating to production of electricity by waterpower
constructed a hydroelectric power plant at the dam site
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The prime component of most hydroelectric systems is a dam. A high dam funnels water downward at high pressure to spin turbines, which in turn drive generators to produce high-voltage electricity. Mountainous countries with rushing rivers can produce the most hydroelectricity. Though hydroelectricity comes from a clean and completely renewable energy source, dams disrupt natural systems in a way that disturbs environmentalists.
Examples of hydroelectric in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the northeast of the fire, by Sugar Pine Mountain, crews worked in steep, inaccessible terrain to bring containment lines into the natural rock bluff, trying to cut the fire off south of the Wishon Reservoir for the protection of the critical hydroelectric infrastructure.
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Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The Bureau of Reclamation earlier this month released projections that showed that if drought continues, Lake Powell’s water levels could drop so low by November 2026 that water will not be able to flow through the dam’s hydroelectric turbines.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
In contrast, with additional solar plants coming online over the course of the year, there's a good chance that in 2025, grid-scale solar will end up producing more electricity than hydroelectric plants for the first time.
—ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2025
Nuclear reactors and hydroelectric power stations are also set to lose generation share, from around 8% and 7% respectively right now to around 7% and 6% respectively by 2035.
—Gavin Maguire, Reuters, 22 Aug. 2025
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Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The Bureau of Reclamation earlier this month released projections that showed that if drought continues, Lake Powell’s water levels could drop so low by November 2026 that water will not be able to flow through the dam’s hydroelectric turbines.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
In contrast, with additional solar plants coming online over the course of the year, there's a good chance that in 2025, grid-scale solar will end up producing more electricity than hydroelectric plants for the first time.
—ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2025
Nuclear reactors and hydroelectric power stations are also set to lose generation share, from around 8% and 7% respectively right now to around 7% and 6% respectively by 2035.
—Gavin Maguire, Reuters, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hydroelectric
Cite this Entry
“Hydroelectric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydroelectric. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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hydroelectric
adjective
hy·dro·elec·tric
ˌhī-drō-i-ˈlek-trik
: of or relating to production of electricity by waterpower
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