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
Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 16 May 2024
How the district responds to the civil rights complaints and any subsequent resolution agreement could signal a turning tide, for better or worse, especially during this election season.
—Stephanie Drenka, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tide 
Noun
Malic will make up a rising tide of these female investors, who are expected to control $30 trillion in the financial assets of baby boomers by the end of the decade, according to McKinsey.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 16 May 2024
How the district responds to the civil rights complaints and any subsequent resolution agreement could signal a turning tide, for better or worse, especially during this election season.
—Stephanie Drenka, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tide
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 21 May. 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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