Meaning & use
lazy river
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A shallow artificial channel with a gentle current where people float on tubes for fun.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a lazy river' or 'lazy rivers'.
Patterns
- float on a lazy river
- go down a lazy river
- a lazy river at a water park
The kids spent all afternoon floating on the lazy river.
The resort has a large pool and a lazy river that winds through the gardens.
We rented tubes and drifted along the lazy river for an hour.
nouncountableliterary
A slow-moving natural river or a section of one that seems to flow very gently.
Grammar: Countable, but in this sense it is less common and usually literary.
Patterns
- a lazy river winds through something
- a lazy river flows
A lazy river wound through the meadow, barely moving.
The painting shows a lazy river under a wide sky.
Word forms
| plural | lazy rivers |
|---|
Common combinations
- float on a lazy river
- We floated on a lazy river all morning.
- go down a lazy river
- You can go down the lazy river on a tube.
- a lazy river at a water park
- The water park has a lazy river and several slides.
- tube down a lazy river
- They tubed down the lazy river, laughing.
- a lazy river ride
- The lazy river ride is perfect for relaxing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- artificial river
- A broader term for any man-made river; 'lazy river' specifically suggests a gentle current for floating.
- water ride
- A general term for any ride in water; 'lazy river' is a calm, floating experience, not a thrill ride.
Commonly confused: lazy river or lazy river?
lazy river vs lazy river
Not to be confused with a natural river that is simply slow; the term usually refers to a man-made feature at a pool or water park.
Practice
At the water park, we spent the afternoon floating on the ______.
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'on the lazy river' uses the singular countable form with 'the'. 'Lazy rivers' would be plural and not fit 'the' here; 'lazy river's' is possessive and would need a following noun; 'lazy rivering' is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lazy river”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.