water table

noun

1
: a stringcourse or similar member when projecting so as to throw off water
2
: the upper limit of the portion of the ground wholly saturated with water

Examples of water table in a Sentence

Heavy rainfall has caused the water table to rise.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When excavating a massive pit, mining operations often hit groundwater, potentially exposing the area's water table (and local drinking water) to contamination. Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024 Weather-sensing timers and low-flow sprinkler heads save more than 50 percent of irrigation water compared to the previous system, and rainwater captured at the spa building is infiltrated back into the soil to help maintain the water table. Pat Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024 Septic-to-sewer conversion is another big funding issue for the city, especially as the water table rises. Joshua "josh" Levy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2024 Extreme drought can stress landscapes and water tables, regardless of whether a city is built on top of them or not. Paige Vega, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See all Example Sentences for water table 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of water table was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near water table

Cite this Entry

“Water table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20table. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

water table

noun
: the upper limit of the portion of the ground completely soaked with water

More from Merriam-Webster on water table

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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