spillway

noun

spill·​way ˈspil-ˌwā How to pronounce spillway (audio)
: 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 Both years saw major flooding and use of the spillway. Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 The inspection found deterioration of the spillway outfall pipe, and trees growing upstream, downstream and along the embankment, the consent order states. Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2024 The year before, in 2017, more than 200,000 people were evacuated when the spillway at Oroville Dam crumbled during heavy winter storms, raising fears the massive dam might collapse. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 3 July 2024 Both modes of transportation were discontinued when the Sewer Museum was officially founded in 1975, and they were replaced by walking tours that travel more than a third of a mile through underground flush tanks, spillways, and passages strung with water pipes and cables. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for spillway 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spillway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spillway was in 1889

Dictionary Entries Near spillway

Cite this Entry

“Spillway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spillway. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

spillway

noun
spill·​way ˈspil-ˌwā How to pronounce spillway (audio)
: a passage for extra water to run over or around a dam

More from Merriam-Webster on spillway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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