tide

¹ American  

[tahyd] / taɪd /

noun

1. the periodic rise and fall of the waters of the ocean and its inlets, produced by the attraction of the moon and sun, and occurring about every 12 hours.

2. the inflow, outflow, or current of water at any given place resulting from the waves of tides.

3. flood tide.

4. a stream or current.

5. anything that alternately rises and falls, increases and decreases, etc..

   the tide of the seasons.

6. current, tendency, or drift, as of events or ideas.

   the tide of international events.

7. any extreme or critical period or condition.

   The tide of her illness is at its height.

8. a season or period in the course of the year, day, etc. (now used chiefly in combination).

   wintertide; eventide.

9. Ecclesiastical. a period of time that includes and follows an anniversary, festival, etc.

10. Archaic. a suitable time or occasion.

11. Obsolete. an extent of time.

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verb (used without object)

tided, tiding

1. to flow as the tide; flow to and fro.

2. to float or drift with the tide.

verb (used with object)

tided, tiding

1. to carry, as the tide does.

verb phrase

1. tide over

   1. to assist in getting over a period of difficulty or distress.

   2. to surmount (a difficulty, obstacle, etc.); survive.

idioms

1. turn the tide, to reverse the course of events, especially from one extreme to another.

   The Battle of Saratoga turned the tide of the American Revolution.

tide ² American  

[tahyd] / taɪd /

verb (used without object)

Archaic.

tided, tiding

1. to happen or befall.

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tide ¹ British  

/ taɪd /

noun

1. the cyclic rise and fall of sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. There are usually two high tides and two low tides in each lunar day See also tide-generating force neap tide spring tide

2. the current, ebb, or flow of water at a specified place resulting from these changes in level

   the tide is coming in

3. See ebb flood

4. a widespread tendency or movement

   the tide of resentment against the government

5. a critical point in time; turning point

   the tide of his fortunes

6. dialect a fair or holiday

7. (in combination) a season or time

   Christmastide

8. rare any body of mobile water, such as a stream

9. archaic a favourable opportunity

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verb

1. to carry or be carried with or as if with the tide

2. (intr) to ebb and flow like the tide

tide ² British  

/ taɪd /

verb

1. archaic (intr) to happen

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tide Scientific  

/ tīd /

1. The regular rise and fall in the surface level of the Earth's oceans, seas, and bays caused by the gravitational attraction of the Moon and to a lesser extent of the Sun. The maximum high tides (or spring tides) occur when the Moon and Sun are directly aligned with Earth, so that their gravitational pull on Earth's waters is along the same line and is reinforced. The lowest high tides (or neap tides) occur when the Moon and Sun are at right angles to each other, so that their gravitational pull on Earth's waters originates from two different directions and is mitigated. Tides vary greatly by region and are influenced by sea-floor topography, storms, and water currents.

2. See also ebb tide flood tide neap tide spring tide

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tide More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing tide

• stem the tide
• swim against the current (tide)
• swim with the tide
• time and tide
• turn of the tide

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Other Word Forms

• tideful adjective
• tideless adjective
• tidelessness noun
• tidelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of tide¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English tīd “time, hour”; cognate with Dutch tijd, German Zeit, Old Norse tīth; akin to time

Origin of tide²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English tiden, Old English tīdan; see betide

Explanation

The tide is the daily rise and fall of the sea level. You can count on the regular changing patterns of the tide, unless of course a tsunami is headed your way. In a figurative sense, tide can mean a rising swell of support or unified feeling about a certain opinion or topic. So you may surf at high tide but also enjoy the rising tide of enthusiasm about surfing. If there is a wave of anything — immigration, inflation, terror — it can be referred to as a tide. No surfboards can navigate those tricky waves.

Example Sentences

The OTC might tide them over until that GMO creation was ready for widespread planting.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Many strategists expect artificial intelligence will be a rising tide that will lift the productivity of all workers.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

I’m really hopeful to introduce bass music to a lot of new people, because I believe the rising tide raises all ships.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

The Stoxx 600 Europe Banks index was down around 7% for the year, threatening to turn the tide on a three-year run.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Fear of the poison tide had driven away countless ocean animals.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• flood
• spate
• stream
• tendency
• torrent
• trend
• undercurrent
• wave