waterfall

noun

wa·​ter·​fall ˈwȯ-tər-ˌfȯl 

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

Synonyms of waterfall

• cascade

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

The showpiece patio, with its 58-foot waterfall wall and Blue Mountain views is a memorable part of the experience. — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

This month, park service staff have offered only minimal details about two deaths at California national parks, including a fatality Saturday at Yosemite in which a young man perished after falling from a nearly 600-foot waterfall. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026

Cellphone video first obtained by TMZ and verified by NBC News shows the boy twist and shoot down the waterfall just behind a ride vehicle filled with parkgoers. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 24 June 2026

Authorites on Wednesday confirmed that a man had died after going over the edge of a waterfall in Yosemite National Park last weekend. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for waterfall

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol

Kids Definition

waterfall

noun

wa·​ter·​fall ˈwȯt-ər-ˌfȯl 

ˈwät-

: a fall of water usually from a great height