white water

noun

variants or whitewater
ˈ(h)wīt-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce white water (audio)
-ˌwä-
Synonyms of white waternext
: turbulent, frothy water (as in breakers, rapids, or falls)
… it's New England's toughest stretch of … white water, a maze of boulders and narrow channels.—Michael D. Burke
… he chased whitewater in some of North America's most remote corners …—Mark Bechtel
When seized by white water, the idea is to swim for the bottom (if you can tell which way that is), pray to stay relaxed and conserve your air …—Kenny Moore
white water rafting
a whitewater outfitter
white-water paddlers

Examples of white water in a Sentence

The canoe got caught in white water.
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.
The shark darted away from the surfers, disappearing into the white water as another man almost surfed over it. — Stephanie Zappelli, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the mountain valleys pour their thread-like streams of white water onto the bare earth surfaced by smaller landslides in recent years, leaving it dripping and fresh. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026 The swirling foam and the crashing white water behind him resemble a snow avalanche. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 One of many great trout streams that wind through this state, which is really a destination for fly fishing, white water boating — river recreation is huge here in Colorado. — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for white water

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for white water

See All Rhymes for white water

Browse Nearby Words

whitewashing
white water
white water crowfoot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“White water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20water. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

white water

noun
: rough foamy water (as in rapids or waterfalls)

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