waterfall

noun

ˈwȯ-tər-ˌfȯl How to pronounce waterfall (audio)
Definition of waterfallnext
as in cascade
a fall of water usually from a great height I used to like to throw sticks in the stream and watch them go over the waterfall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of waterfall This Middle Tennessee gem has everything from whiskey to waterfalls. — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 Police searched the surrounding area and mountains, reported Asahi Shimbun, while Japan Today noted that a police dog detected a human scent near the waterfall. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 McGinley photographed models cavorting naked (always naked) through sand dunes in the Mojave Desert and pine forests in Vermont, in a frigid ice cave in upstate New York and perched above a rushing waterfall in Tennessee. — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026 The itinerary starts with the walk to the water at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which was named for the lifelong Big Sur resident and boasts an 80-foot waterfall, redwood groves, and incredible whale watching spots. — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for waterfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waterfall
cascade
Noun
  • John Kagaoan, principal at Kagaoan Engineering in New York, explained that while some buildings are designed to accommodate some movement, the concern for a collapse can grow as potential failures cascade.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Even if your organization is not regulated like a bank or government contractor, your customers and partners may be—and their expectations cascade into your workflows.
    — Brian Stimpfl, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of cascade

Browse Nearby Words

watered down
waterfall
waterfalls
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Cite this Entry

“Waterfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waterfall. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on waterfall

Nglish: Translation of waterfall for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about waterfall

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