open water

noun

plural open waters

: water that is clear of obstacles to passage or view : water that is open (see open entry 1 sense 7a)

The word marsh conjures up a mental picture of a soggy, flat area filled with cattails and other herbaceous vegetation, with ducks sitting on patches of open water.—

Robert H. Mohlenbrock

often, specifically : water that is free of ice

When the river froze in the fall, a mile of open water had been left between two mighty jams. —

Jack London

Polynyas were areas of persistent open water, found throughout the circumpolar arctic, places kept ice-free by currents and wind patterns. —

David R. Masiel

Because the penguins feed in the ocean, they typically set up colonies near open water and must establish new nests when the coastline becomes covered in … ice. —

Science News

Examples of open water in a Sentence

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.

Lake-effect snowstorms occur when cold, dry air travels over open water, sucking up moisture that is released when the air mass hits land. —

Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024 In Doctor Odyssey, Jackson leaves the darkness behind for blue skies and open waters in Ryan Murphy’s weekly leisure cruise that mixes cultural phenomena like Quackers (people obsessed with rubber ducks) with quirky medical mysteries. —

Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024 Lake effect snow occurs when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024 Even beginner golfers can swing at the scenic course, where players drive their balls over open water from one cliff to another and enjoy endless national park vistas. —

Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for open water