tide

noun \ ˈtīd \

Definition of tide

1 a (1) :the alternate rising and falling of the surface of the ocean and of water bodies (such as gulfs and bays) connected with the ocean that occurs usually twice a day and is the result of differing gravitational forces exerted at different parts of the earth by another body (such as the moon or sun)

(2) :a less marked rising and falling of an inland body of water

(3) :a periodic movement in the earth's crust caused by the same forces that produce ocean tides

(4) :a periodic distortion on one celestial body caused by the gravitational attraction of another

(5) :one of the periodic movements of the atmosphere resembling those of the ocean and produced by gravitation or diurnal temperature changes

b :flood tide 1

2 a :something that fluctuates like the tides of the sea

the tide of public opinion

b :a large and increasing quantity or volume

a tide of opportunists

a swelling tide of criticism

3 a :a flowing stream :current

b :the waters of the ocean

c :the overflow of a flooding stream

4 a :a fit or opportune time :opportunity

b :an ecclesiastical anniversary or festival; also :its season —usually used in combination

Eastertide

c obsolete :a space of time :period

—

tideless

play \-ləs\ adjective

See tide defined for English-language learners

See tide defined for kids

Examples of tide in a Sentence

a chart of the tides
The boat got swept away in the tide.

Recent Examples of tide from the Web

But as the 2017 season prepares to enter its final month, Suarez seems to have overcome the charging and receding tides of his performance.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "Eugenio Suarez no longer just a bundle of potential," 24 Aug. 2017
Wonder Woman was a wildly successful step in the right direction that hopefully signals changing tides, but the three films that preceded it—

— laura bradley, HWD, "Can TV’s New Favorite Producers Save Warner Bros.’ Most Maligned Franchise?," 24 Aug. 2017
Whatever is yours will most certainly come back to you at high tide.

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Total Solar Eclipse Horoscope," 19 Aug. 2017
Just north of the campground, the road runs closer to the beach and high tides have eroded parts of the western shoulder in recent winters.

— phil diehl, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Carlsbad takes another look at state land swap," 18 Aug. 2017
Earth’s largest satellite impacts life on our planet every day, affecting oceanic tides, climate, day length and — most importantly for anglers —animal behavior.

— by jordan rodriguez, idahostatesman, "The moon matters to fish. Here’s why it matters to those of us who want to catch them," 17 Aug. 2017
This all seems to be based in part on the model laid out by Republican Governor Rick Scott's administration in Florida, a state whose biggest city is already flooding at high tide.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "President Trump Should Be Afraid of This Climate Change Report," 8 Aug. 2017
Let the other new Winterfell-heavy photos from Episode 4 tide you over until the episode itself arrives on Sunday.

— joanna robinson, vanityfair.com, "Do New Game of Thrones Photos Hint at Adventure for Brienne and Pod?," 2 Aug. 2017
Against that tide of opposition, Kobach has done little to counter claims that his project is little more than a naked suppression operation against people of color.

— vann r. newkirk ii, The Atlantic, "Trump's Voter-Fraud Commission Has Its First Meeting," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tide

Middle English, time, from Old English tīd; akin to Old High German zīt time and perhaps to Greek daiesthai to divide

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

tide Synonyms

Synonyms

current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, trend, wind

Related Words

curve, downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside; custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way; countercurrent, countertrend; undercurrent, undertow

Other Oceanography Terms

littoral, sound

tide

verb

Definition of tide

tided; tiding

intransitive verb

:to flow as or in a tide :surge

transitive verb

:to cause to float with or as if with the tide

Recent Examples of tide from the Web

That should tide you over until the real show, not on your screen but outdoors (hopefully along the path of totality) on Aug. 21.

— julie zauzmer, courant.com, "A pop culture guide for the eclipse, from Bugs Bunny to the Simpsons," 16 Aug. 2017
And though there’s a number of months to wait until then, today’s release of the first trailer will surely help tide us over.

— diana pearl, PEOPLE.com, "The Queen Is Fierce — and Furious — in Tension-Filled New Trailer for The Crown," 10 Aug. 2017
The tax anticipation warrants are a form of borrowing that will help tide the district over until money comes in.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "West Aurora School District moves to borrow money," 11 July 2017
A perfectly serviceable Western featuring a comfortingly familiar storyline, Hickok will tide genre fans over until more substantial offerings come along.

— frank scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Hickok': Film Review," 7 July 2017
To tide us over, HBO also reminds us which new cast members are on board for Season 7: Jim Broadbent, Tom Hopper, Megan Parkinson and Ed Sheeran (wait, Ed Sheeran?)

— kristi turnquist, OregonLive.com, "'Game of Thrones' Season 7: What's coming in the first 3 episodes," 7 July 2017
The couple cut store hours and asked their banker for a $20,000 loan to tide them over the winter.

— lee bergquist and bob riepenhoff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Survey says 88% plan to hunt this fall, even a 12% drop would mean 80,000 fewer hunters," 6 July 2017
At least this first Saga game should tide you over.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "Total War spins off Saga series focused on smaller 'powder-keg' moments in history," 5 July 2017
Good thing Shark Week starts next month to tide him over.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Of Course Lil Wayne's Mansion Came Ready to Party With a Lagoon Full of Sharks," 23 June 2017

First Known Use of tide

1593

tide

verb

Definition of tide

tided; tiding

intransitive verb

archaic

:betide, befall

Recent Examples of tide from the Web

That should tide you over until the real show, not on your screen but outdoors (hopefully along the path of totality) on Aug. 21.

— julie zauzmer, courant.com, "A pop culture guide for the eclipse, from Bugs Bunny to the Simpsons," 16 Aug. 2017
And though there’s a number of months to wait until then, today’s release of the first trailer will surely help tide us over.

— diana pearl, PEOPLE.com, "The Queen Is Fierce — and Furious — in Tension-Filled New Trailer for The Crown," 10 Aug. 2017
The tax anticipation warrants are a form of borrowing that will help tide the district over until money comes in.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "West Aurora School District moves to borrow money," 11 July 2017
A perfectly serviceable Western featuring a comfortingly familiar storyline, Hickok will tide genre fans over until more substantial offerings come along.

— frank scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Hickok': Film Review," 7 July 2017
To tide us over, HBO also reminds us which new cast members are on board for Season 7: Jim Broadbent, Tom Hopper, Megan Parkinson and Ed Sheeran (wait, Ed Sheeran?)

— kristi turnquist, OregonLive.com, "'Game of Thrones' Season 7: What's coming in the first 3 episodes," 7 July 2017
The couple cut store hours and asked their banker for a $20,000 loan to tide them over the winter.

— lee bergquist and bob riepenhoff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Survey says 88% plan to hunt this fall, even a 12% drop would mean 80,000 fewer hunters," 6 July 2017
At least this first Saga game should tide you over.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "Total War spins off Saga series focused on smaller 'powder-keg' moments in history," 5 July 2017
Good thing Shark Week starts next month to tide him over.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Of Course Lil Wayne's Mansion Came Ready to Party With a Lagoon Full of Sharks," 23 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of tide

Middle English, from Old English tīdan; akin to Middle Dutch tiden to go, come, Old English tīd time

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

TIDE Defined for English Language Learners

tide

noun

Definition of tide for English Language Learners

: the regular upward and downward movement of the level of the ocean that is caused by the pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth
: the flow of the ocean's water as the tide rises or falls
: the way in which something is changing or developing

TIDE Defined for Kids

tide

noun \ ˈtīd \

Definition of tide for Students

1 :the rising and falling of the surface of the ocean caused twice daily by the attraction of the sun and the moon

2 :something that rises and falls or rushes in a mass

The tide of public opinion often changes.

History for tide

The English word tide at first meant “time” or “a space of time.” Later the word was used for the space of time between the rising and falling of the sea's surface. Then tide came to mean “the rising and falling of the sea.” This is the most common meaning of the word today.