tidal

adjective

tid·​al ˈtī-dᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, caused by, or having tides

tidal cycles

tidal erosion

b

: periodically rising and falling or flowing and ebbing

tidal waters

2

: dependent (as to the time of arrival or departure) upon the state of the tide

a tidal steamer

tidally

ˈtī-dᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of tidal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pooling of sea water is possible around high tide at beach and harbor areas that is uncommon with normal tidal ranges. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Medieval tidal theories fell into a few categories. —JSTOR Daily, 1 Dec. 2025

The California Coastal Commission is asking people to photograph the high tidal waters and the impact of the waves and submit their photos to the California King Tides Project. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025

That will open the pond to the tidal actions of San Francisco Bay for the first time in roughly a century. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tidal

• tidal wave

Rhymes for tidal

• bridal
• bridle
• idle
• idol
• idyll
• seidel
• sidle
• widal
• apsidal
• subtidal
• fratricidal
• fungicidal

Kids Definition

tidal

adjective

tid·​al ˈtīd-ᵊl 

: of or relating to tides : rising and falling or flowing and ebbing at regular times

Medical Definition

tidal

adjective

tid·​al ˈtīd-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or constituting tidal air

interference with the normal tidal exchange of the lungs

—F. R. Mautz & R. M. Hosler