Meaning & use
riptide
Last updated
A strong, narrow current of water flowing away from the shore, caused by the movement of water through a channel.
See it in a sentence
Lifeguards warned swimmers about a dangerous riptide near the pier.
If caught in a riptide, experts advise swimming parallel to the shore rather than against it.
A note on using this word
Despite the common name, oceanographers prefer the term rip current, since the phenomenon isn't actually caused by tides but by wave action and underwater topography.
Words with a similar meaning
rip currentundertow
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “riptide”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.