tailwater
noun
tail·wa·ter
ˈtāl-ˌwȯ-tər 
-ˌwä-
1
: water below a dam or waterpower development
2
: excess surface water draining especially from a field under cultivation
Examples of tailwater in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Contract crews are currently on the ground, conducting a debris clean up project on a nature trail and surrounding areas near the tailwater launching ramp and fishing platform below Old Hickory Lock & Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District said in a release.
—
Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
White River, Arkansas The target 100-mile tailwater section below Bull Shoals Dam will showcase the species diversity of the White River.
—Outside Online, 29 May 2025
Groups representing anglers were also in favor as tailwater rainbow trout stocks have been hit in recent years by low water in Lake Powell, which has also caused temperatures to rise.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
The anglers checked that record on their cell phones — a cutthroat that weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces and was also caught in the Boone tailwaters by 10-year-old Palmer Tipton in July 2023 — and started making phone calls.
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 25 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tailwater
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.
Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
White River, Arkansas The target 100-mile tailwater section below Bull Shoals Dam will showcase the species diversity of the White River.
—Outside Online, 29 May 2025
Groups representing anglers were also in favor as tailwater rainbow trout stocks have been hit in recent years by low water in Lake Powell, which has also caused temperatures to rise.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
The anglers checked that record on their cell phones — a cutthroat that weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces and was also caught in the Boone tailwaters by 10-year-old Palmer Tipton in July 2023 — and started making phone calls.
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 25 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tailwater
Cite this Entry
“Tailwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailwater. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share