stormwater
noun
storm·wa·ter
ˈstȯrm-ˌwȯ-tər 
-ˌwä-
: rainwater produced by a storm
a stormwater management system
As stormwater runs over lawns, streets and other man-made surfaces, it picks up pollutants—phosphorous and nitrogen from fertilizers, bacteria from pet waste and road salt, to name a few—and carries them into local streams and lakes.—
Delen Goldberg
Delen GoldbergThis rainfall "of biblical proportions," as the local newspaper described it, swamped the city in waist-high stormwater.—Christopher Cooper and Robert Block
Christopher Cooper and Robert BlockExamples of stormwater in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the infrastructure front, Irvin said work will continue this year on the installation of a large stormwater pipe designed to redirect water out of the village and alleviate flooding.
—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Westport flood prevention The Westport Stormwater Improvements Project, organized by KC Water, includes building two reservoirs and a channel under Mill Street to route stormwater to them.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
To protect what wetlands remain on the site, Kelly officials said the company will connect two smaller patches with an on-site stormwater system.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Over the decades, the state and counties in the region have built more than 500 miles of paved flood control channels to direct stormwater runoff and flows from the Los Angeles, San Gabriel and Santa Ana rivers.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stormwater
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.
Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Westport flood prevention The Westport Stormwater Improvements Project, organized by KC Water, includes building two reservoirs and a channel under Mill Street to route stormwater to them.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
To protect what wetlands remain on the site, Kelly officials said the company will connect two smaller patches with an on-site stormwater system.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Over the decades, the state and counties in the region have built more than 500 miles of paved flood control channels to direct stormwater runoff and flows from the Los Angeles, San Gabriel and Santa Ana rivers.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stormwater
Cite this Entry
“Stormwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stormwater. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
