tailwater

noun

tail·​wa·​ter ˈtāl-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce tailwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
1
: water below a dam or waterpower development
2
: excess surface water draining especially from a field under cultivation

Examples of tailwater 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.
White River, Arkansas The target 100-mile tailwater section below Bull Shoals Dam will showcase the species diversity of the White River. Outside Online, 29 May 2025 Groups representing anglers were also in favor as tailwater rainbow trout stocks have been hit in recent years by low water in Lake Powell, which has also caused temperatures to rise. James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025 The anglers checked that record on their cell phones — a cutthroat that weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces and was also caught in the Boone tailwaters by 10-year-old Palmer Tipton in July 2023 — and started making phone calls. Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 25 July 2024 But even Maryland’s tailwaters — the rivers that flow from dams and provide great, cold-water habitat for wild trout — have been stressed this year, with 90-degree days starting in June. Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for tailwater

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailwater was in 1759

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Cite this Entry

“Tailwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailwater. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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