white water
noun
variants
or whitewater
ˈ(h)wīt-ˌwȯ-tər 
-ˌwä-
: 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
Michael D. Burke… he chased whitewater in some of North America's most remote corners …—Mark Bechtel
Mark BechtelWhen 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
Kenny Moorewhite 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
In Moab, art and culture mix easily with mountain adventure: bouldering, hiking, white water rafting, fishing and more.
—Cari Shane, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
The Ocoee River, the site of the 1996 Olympic Games’ white water sports, is partially in Cherokee National Forest.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Sep. 2025
For the adventurous, there’s white water rafting on the Tenorio River or birdwatching in the cloud forests.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 22 Sep. 2025
At a ceremony on Tuesday at the site in Guba, an Ethiopian fighter jet flew low over the mist from the dam’s white waters, which plunge 170 meters (558 feet).
—CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for white water
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Cari Shane, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
The Ocoee River, the site of the 1996 Olympic Games’ white water sports, is partially in Cherokee National Forest.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Sep. 2025
For the adventurous, there’s white water rafting on the Tenorio River or birdwatching in the cloud forests.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 22 Sep. 2025
At a ceremony on Tuesday at the site in Guba, an Ethiopian fighter jet flew low over the mist from the dam’s white waters, which plunge 170 meters (558 feet).
—CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for white water
Cite this Entry
“White water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20water. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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