high-water

1 of 2

adjective

high-wa·​ter ˈhī-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce high-water (audio)
-ˌwä-
: unusually short
high-water pants

high water

2 of 2

noun

: a high stage of the water in a river or lake
also : high tide sense 1

Examples of high-water in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
Still, the Valkyries set a new franchise record for bench points in a game (54) and set a new high-water mark for margin of victory in a road game this season. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 The high-water mark for freshman snaps under Freeman (2,999) came during the 2024 season, when Notre Dame played in the national championship game. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
But high waters from the storms killed new trees and plantings, which now need to be redone. — Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2026 Others spoke about the familiar concerns over data centers — high water and power usage, environmental concerns, and potential health risks. — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high-water

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for high-water

See All Rhymes for high-water

Browse Nearby Words

high-warp
high-water
high water
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-water. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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