as in ponds
a large area of water that is surrounded by land
They own a cottage on the lake. the shores of the lake
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Recent Examples of lakes
Underwater Caves Hold More Than Human Remains Around the time this individual was alive, the Yucatán Peninsula was a semi-arid savannah with no rivers or lakes — water and shade were scarce.
—
Ryan Brennan
april 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Lombardy poplars are better suited to farm areas, and do especially well along ponds, lakes, or other areas that are consistently moist.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
These two lakes provide clean drinking water to the area in the 21st century.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2026
FishBooker searched throughout the nation for the best lakes for anglers and came up with this ranking that includes waters in Colorado and the beautiful environment of Idaho.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
april 3, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Some lakes do have personality, though.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
Almost all natural bodies of water bear fish life, with the exception of very hot thermal ponds and extremely salt-alkaline lakes, such as the Dead Sea in Asia and the Great Salt Lake in North America.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Kentucky legislators acted on the divisive issue in late March by adding an amendment to an existing bill related to fishing on private lakes and ponds.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Up North leaders say they're torn between wanting the best future for their students and acknowledging that some who could flourish in college prefer to remain among the forests, rivers and lakes of the region, even if jobs pay less and everything from dentists to Walmart are farther away.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Ryan Brennan
april 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Lombardy poplars are better suited to farm areas, and do especially well along ponds, lakes, or other areas that are consistently moist.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026
These two lakes provide clean drinking water to the area in the 21st century.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2026
FishBooker searched throughout the nation for the best lakes for anglers and came up with this ranking that includes waters in Colorado and the beautiful environment of Idaho.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
april 3, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Some lakes do have personality, though.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
Almost all natural bodies of water bear fish life, with the exception of very hot thermal ponds and extremely salt-alkaline lakes, such as the Dead Sea in Asia and the Great Salt Lake in North America.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Kentucky legislators acted on the divisive issue in late March by adding an amendment to an existing bill related to fishing on private lakes and ponds.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Up North leaders say they're torn between wanting the best future for their students and acknowledging that some who could flourish in college prefer to remain among the forests, rivers and lakes of the region, even if jobs pay less and everything from dentists to Walmart are farther away.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lakes
Noun
-
It is surrounded by coral reefs and features volcanic rocks, lagoons and small white sand beaches.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Nearby, explore downtown Playa del Carmen or visit Xcaret, an eco-archaeological park that offers the opportunity to swim in underground rivers or float in lagoons, among other activities.—
Sheryl Nance Nash,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, one of 31,000 freshwater lochs in Scotland, Fort William sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, at 4,490 feet the highest peak in Britain.—
Patti Nickell,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Curling is a game of tradition, first played centuries ago on Scottish lochs, where players slide heavy granite rocks down a sheet of ice toward a target.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That matters because snowpack makes up the bulk of the state’s water supply; Colorado is heavily dependent on surface water in rivers and tributaries fed by melting snow in the soaring Rocky Mountains, in addition to backup supplies in reservoirs.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
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According to the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University, by late June of that year, the state saw extremely low stream flows, rapidly depleted reservoirs, and severe agricultural impacts to wheat, cattle and irrigated crops.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lakes. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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