tide

noun \ ˈtīd \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

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 \ˈtīd-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

This forced automakers to not only share profits in what has become the largest car market on the planet, but in some cases, share expertise as well, all as part of an effort to create a rising tide for Chinese car companies.

— sean o'kane, The Verge, "New rules on making cars in China could help Tesla — or give it even more to worry about," 17 Apr. 2018
These days many Indians despair at what often appears to be a rising tide of majoritarian nastiness.

— The Economist, "Why South Asia’s majorities act like persecuted minorities," 12 Apr. 2018
The league of cities — a nonprofit association that advocates on behalf of more than 380 Kentucky municipalities — supports HB 169, as does Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, as a way to crack down on a rising tide of violent crime in urban centers.

— phillip m. bailey, The Courier-Journal, "ACLU of Kentucky and Louisville Urban League want to protect gang members, lobbyist says," 12 Apr. 2018
And the rising tide of female distance running goes beyond Flanagan’s Bowerman Track Club in Portland, Oregon, gathering its own momentum across the country.

— shira springer, BostonGlobe.com, "No matter where she finishes in Boston, Shalane Flanagan has changed running for American women," 11 Apr. 2018
California officials are hoping their latest attempt to stem the rising tides of climate change leads to a more socially conscious -- and cooler -- summer.

— travis fedschun, Fox News, "Los Angeles painting city streets white in bid to combat climate change," 10 Apr. 2018
This is King navigating hecklers, cynics, and detractors; fighting for the gospel of nonviolence amid bloody uprisings in cities across America, and against the rising tide of black power, as espoused by younger leaders like Stokely Carmichael.

— julia felsenthal, Vogue, "HBO’s King in the Wilderness Takes On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Act," 30 Mar. 2018
Even so, few regret leaving their country, especially as the rising tide of street violence flows deeper into hospitals and other medical facilities.

— antonio maria delgado, miamiherald, "Doctors in violent Venezuela work under threat of death if patients die | Miami Herald," 29 Mar. 2018
The latest move is unlikely to quiet the rising tide of anger on the right, a campaign fueled by the bitter Twitter messages of President Trump.

— joseph tanfani, latimes.com, "Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions says no second special counsel for probe into FBI, at least for now," 29 Mar. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 4c

See Words from the same year

tide Synonyms

Synonyms

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

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

After word spread in early November that Briskman had lost her job, friends set up a GoFundMe campaign that raised $134,385 to tide her family through a job search.

— carolyn mcatee cerbin, USA TODAY, "Juli Briskman, woman on bike who flipped off Trump motorcade, sues over job loss," 5 Apr. 2018
Those who return are given 100,000 naira ($278) to tide them over for the first three months, and training on how to start their own businesses.

— The Economist, "Europe is sending African migrants home. Will they stay?," 28 Mar. 2018
Fortunately, there was another beautiful royal wedding over the weekend to tide you over.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "There Was a Royal Wedding in Peru Over the Weekend—and the Bride Wore This Stunning Tiara," 19 Mar. 2018
There should be more than enough to tide you over until the next round in September.

— emily farra, Vogue, "Vogue’s Backstage Photographer on His 23 Favorite Moments From the Fall 2018 Shows," 16 Mar. 2018
In return, the White House pledged to give North Korea two alternative nuclear power reactors that could not be used in a weapons program — as well as fuel to tide it over before the new reactors were ready.

— mark landler and david e. sanger, New York Times, "On North Korea, Trump Finds Himself in Same Position as His Predecessors," 6 Mar. 2018
And now, countless Dawgs fans will be roll tiding their way through 11 stories of steel on the renamed Alabama Scorcher during this March's opening weekend festivities.

— Southern Living, "Six Flags Over Georgia Loses Football Bet and Has to Rename Their Coaster "Alabama Scorcher"," 12 Jan. 2018
Posted by Front Street Animal Shelter - City of Sacramento on Thursday, March 1, 2018 Hundreds of blankets have been donated, and the shelter said there should be enough to tide the dogs over until the washing machine is fixed.

— kalin kipling, sacbee, "Front Street pleads for blankets to keep dogs warm – and community comes to the rescue | The Sacramento Bee," 2 Mar. 2018
They were once meant to help tide people over in between jobs or during other changes that would lead to a brief lapse in health coverage.

— catherine ho, San Francisco Chronicle, "State law would impede Trump plan to loosen rules on health insurance sales," 20 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of tide

1593

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

tide

verb

Definition of tide

tided; tiding

intransitive verb

archaic

: betide, befall

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

in the meaning defined above

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.