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

There's incredible tidal changes in terms of movement and because of the currents here. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

Today, the land is a haven for wildlife, with pastures, a year-round creek, and coastal tidal zones that nurture rich biodiversity. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2025

Areas used for aquaculture have since suffered chronic tidal flooding, leading to oversalinization, and land has been lost, the study said. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Gravitational tidal effects from the mass of neighboring star-forming regions could also have given Ophion's stars an extra push. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 Apr. 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