white water

noun

variants or whitewater
: turbulent, frothy water (as in breakers, rapids, or falls)
… it's New England's toughest stretch of … white water, a maze of boulders and narrow channels.Michael D. Burke
… he chased whitewater in some of North America's most remote corners …Mark Bechtel
When seized by white water, the idea is to swim for the bottom (if you can tell which way that is), pray to stay relaxed and conserve your air …Kenny Moore
white water rafting
a whitewater outfitter
white-water paddlers

Examples of white water in a Sentence

The canoe got caught in white water.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The river — a popular spot for white water rafting around this time of the year — is fast-moving and dangerous. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025 Haas customized a tour for this group, combining opportunities to meet with Afro-Costa Ricans featured in the series, including writer Quince Duncan and cacao farmer Daniel South, and to participate in activities like cooking classes, ziplining, and white water rafting. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025 But there’s plenty to do on-property as well, with opportunities to ride horses, white water raft, and fly fish in the South Fork of the Madison River. Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025 Hutch was a white water rafting guide in Ontario who got pulled into the water after a rafter fell off the boat and pulled on Hutch's life jacket. Rosalind Bowling, The Tennessean, 19 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for white water

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white water was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“White water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20water. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

white water

noun
: rough foamy water (as in rapids or waterfalls)

More from Merriam-Webster on white water

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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