: a passage for surplus water to run over or around an obstruction (such as a dam)
Examples of spillway in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Usually, water flows from a spillway inside the wall into a basin below.
—
Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
The new spillway would have gates lower than the dam’s existing spillway, allowing water to be released while the reservoir is at lower levels, such as before a large storm passes through.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025
Improving the spillway, modifying the shape and elevation of the dam embankment, installing new flood early warning systems and relocating a wastewater line are on the project's to-do list.
—Asher Price, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025
Yuba Water Agency, which operates the dam, has had the spillway designed and is seeking state and federal funds to pay for it, with 2027 targeted for construction.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spillway
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Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
The new spillway would have gates lower than the dam’s existing spillway, allowing water to be released while the reservoir is at lower levels, such as before a large storm passes through.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025
Improving the spillway, modifying the shape and elevation of the dam embankment, installing new flood early warning systems and relocating a wastewater line are on the project's to-do list.
—Asher Price, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025
Yuba Water Agency, which operates the dam, has had the spillway designed and is seeking state and federal funds to pay for it, with 2027 targeted for construction.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spillway
Cite this Entry
“Spillway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spillway. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spillway
noun
spill·way
ˈspil-ˌwā 
: a passage for extra water to run over or around a dam
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