cas·cade
(ˌ)kas-ˈkād 
1
: a steep usually small fall of water
especially
: one of a series
2
a
: something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding
blood clotting involves a biochemical cascade
b
: a fall of material (such as lace) that hangs in a zigzag line and that is used especially in clothing and draperies
3
: something falling or rushing forth in quantity
a cascade of sound
a cascade of events
Her hair was arranged in a cascade of curls.
cascaded; cascading
: to fall, pour, or rush in or as if in a cascade
The water cascaded over the rocks.
Her hair cascaded down around her shoulders.
Synonyms
Examples of cascade in a Sentence
Noun
Her hair was arranged in a cascade of curls.
That decision set off a cascade of events.
Verb
The water cascades over the rocks.
Her hair cascaded down around her shoulders.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
In the hours after the Qatari prime minister announced the agreement on Wednesday, Netanyahu’s office sent a cascade of press releases accusing Hamas of reneging on promises to give Israel a veto over some Palestinian prisoners due to be released.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
Julia Teti, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025
Dynamo chose a special site: Tolima’s Cuevas del Mohan, – a huge 160-foot waterfall cascading down to a small cave beside a river.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cascade 
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Noun
For its part, Iran is facing a cascade of challenges at home and in the region, with its militant allies weakened and its economy in shambles because of sanctions.
—Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
In the hours after the Qatari prime minister announced the agreement on Wednesday, Netanyahu’s office sent a cascade of press releases accusing Hamas of reneging on promises to give Israel a veto over some Palestinian prisoners due to be released.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
As for her glam, Palmer opted to show off her voluminous auburn hair, which was styled with soft curls that cascaded down her shoulders.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025
Dynamo chose a special site: Tolima’s Cuevas del Mohan, – a huge 160-foot waterfall cascading down to a small cave beside a river.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cascade
Dictionary Entries Near cascade
Cite this Entry
“Cascade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cascade. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cascade
1 of 2 noun
cas·cade
kas-ˈkād
: a steep usually small waterfall
cascade
2 of 2 verb
cascaded; cascading
: to fall in or as if in a cascade
Medical Definition
cascade
noun
cas·cade
(ˌ)kas-ˈkād
: a molecular, biochemical, or physiological process occurring in a succession of stages each of which is closely related to or depends on the output of the previous stage
a cascade of enzymatic reactions
the cascade of events comprising the immune response
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