1
a(1)
: the alternate rising and falling of the surface of the ocean and of water bodies (such as gulfs and bays) connected with the ocean that occurs usually twice a day and is the result of differing gravitational forces exerted at different parts of the earth by another body (such as the moon or sun)
(2)
: a less marked rising and falling of an inland body of water
(3)
: a periodic movement in the earth's crust caused by the same forces that produce ocean tides
(4)
: a periodic distortion on one celestial body caused by the gravitational attraction of another
(5)
: one of the periodic movements of the atmosphere resembling those of the ocean and produced by gravitation or diurnal temperature changes
2
a
: something that fluctuates like the tides of the sea
the tide of public opinion
b
: a large and increasing quantity or volume
a tide of opportunists
a swelling tide of criticism
3
4
a
: a fit or opportune time : opportunity
b
: an ecclesiastical anniversary or festival
also
: its season
—usually used in combination
Eastertide
c
obsolete
: a space of time : period
Synonyms
Examples of tide in a Sentence
Noun
a chart of the tides
The boat got swept away in the tide.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kai Bird, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
Luckily for those bosses, the tides seem to be turning in their favor.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Maybe their sand castles can’t hold back the onrushing tide of NIL and unlimited transfers and the age of entitlement and the professionalization of a once virtuous endeavor and the demise of the educational mission.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024
Throughout his career, the tides have changed for Combs about as often as he’s changed his name.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Water from the Potomac River flows over parts of the sea walls twice a day during normal tide conditions, flooding the ground around many of the cherry trees, including Stumpy, and threatening visitors’ safety, Litterst said.
—Emily Hung, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
The tide may have started to turn, even as Palestinians seem to believe that there are few viable political alternatives to chart their future.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
The tide is turning among Europe’s golden visa programs.
—Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
It was published in December, but the tide of its impact is still rising.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Southern California saw stormy seas combine with king tides on Jan. 11-12, causing flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
—Paul Duginski, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
When king tides occur during floods or storms, water levels can rise even higher and have the potential to cause great damage to the coastline and coastal property.
—Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2024
Simple ways to start building an emergency fund While getting a low-cost loan to tide you over in a pinch may be a relief, not having to borrow at all is optimal.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
In future decades, rising sea levels due to climate change are expected to result in average high tides that may be as high as king tides of today.
—Paul Duginski, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
The new big-screen adaptation of Mean Girls is just a few days away, and Reneé Rapp is dropping a single from the movie to tide you over.
—Carita Rizzo, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2024
When the chick hatches, to tide it over until the time the female returns with food, the male feeds the chick crop milk.
—Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024
Looking for a new read to tide you over until your next vacation?
—David Nikel, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
The tide of extremism on all sides has risen, and civil society voices of moderation are largely deemed irrelevant.
—Kai Bird, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
Luckily for those bosses, the tides seem to be turning in their favor.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Maybe their sand castles can’t hold back the onrushing tide of NIL and unlimited transfers and the age of entitlement and the professionalization of a once virtuous endeavor and the demise of the educational mission.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024
Throughout his career, the tides have changed for Combs about as often as he’s changed his name.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Water from the Potomac River flows over parts of the sea walls twice a day during normal tide conditions, flooding the ground around many of the cherry trees, including Stumpy, and threatening visitors’ safety, Litterst said.
—Emily Hung, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
The tide may have started to turn, even as Palestinians seem to believe that there are few viable political alternatives to chart their future.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
The tide is turning among Europe’s golden visa programs.
—Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
It was published in December, but the tide of its impact is still rising.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
And while Baltimore’s harbor experiences fairly small changes even during springtime full moon tides, the tidal movements of water could have been a factor in the bridge impact.
—Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Southern California saw stormy seas combine with king tides on Jan. 11-12, causing flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
—Paul Duginski, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
When king tides occur during floods or storms, water levels can rise even higher and have the potential to cause great damage to the coastline and coastal property.
—Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2024
Simple ways to start building an emergency fund While getting a low-cost loan to tide you over in a pinch may be a relief, not having to borrow at all is optimal.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
In future decades, rising sea levels due to climate change are expected to result in average high tides that may be as high as king tides of today.
—Paul Duginski, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
The new big-screen adaptation of Mean Girls is just a few days away, and Reneé Rapp is dropping a single from the movie to tide you over.
—Carita Rizzo, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2024
When the chick hatches, to tide it over until the time the female returns with food, the male feeds the chick crop milk.
—Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024
Looking for a new read to tide you over until your next vacation?
—David Nikel, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Tide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tide. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tide
1 of 2 noun1
: the alternate rising and falling of the surface of the ocean that occurs twice a day and is caused by the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon occurring unequally on different parts of the earth
2
: the flow of the incoming or outgoing tide
3
: something that rises and falls like the tides of the sea
tide
2 of 2 verb
tided; tiding
: to enable to overcome or put up with a difficulty
money to tide us over
Medical Definition
tide
noun
: a temporary increase or decrease in a specified substance or quality in the body or one of its systems
a postprandial alkaline tide, the typical rise in urinary pH associated with gastric acid secretion—E. J. Jacobson & Gerhard Fuchs
E. J. Jacobson & Gerhard FuchsLove words? Need even more definitions?
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