waterfall

noun

wa·​ter·​fall ˈwȯ-tər-ˌfȯl How to pronounce waterfall (audio)
ˈwä-
1
a
: a perpendicular or very steep descent of the water of a stream
b
: an artificial waterfall (as in a hotel lobby or a nightclub)
2
: something resembling a waterfall

Examples of waterfall in a Sentence

I used to like to throw sticks in the stream and watch them go over the waterfall.
Recent Examples on the Web Horsetail Fall is a seasonal waterfall that spills off the eastern face of the iconic El Capitan rock formation. Michael Levitt, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Erin Ranney, who filmed in Alaska, where she was born, came across a waterfall where female brown bears were sharing a fishing spot. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 The waterfall, after all, generates its own rainbow. Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024 Commisso, who has repeatedly spoken out against overspending clubs and their cheating, believes that smaller teams need to have the chance to dream, and as the waterfall of debt crashes down upon many in Serie A, Fiorentina is increasingly building a self-sustainable empire. David Ferrini, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 In addition to its proximity to key minerals and an industrial work force, Mo i Rana also offers cheap and green electricity thanks to hydropower fueled by snow melt, glacial runoff and the waterfalls that cascade through its craggy mountains. Ana Swanson Thomas Ekström, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Rounding it all out: lushly landscaped grounds hosting meandering pathways and an additional waterfall that empties into into a spa. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2024 The heartbreaking barriers were the waterfalls, with side walls worn smooth as glass. Myke Cole and Michael Livingston, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024 The course will also wind its way through two new countries for the show as players will swim through waterfalls in the Dominican Republic while also visiting Rihanna’s childhood home in Barbados. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'waterfall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of waterfall was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near waterfall

Cite this Entry

“Waterfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waterfall. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

waterfall

noun
wa·​ter·​fall ˈwȯt-ər-ˌfȯl How to pronounce waterfall (audio)
ˈwät-
: a fall of water usually from a great height

More from Merriam-Webster on waterfall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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