high-water

A child wears high-water pants to school.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The highest level reached by a body of water: "high-water" refers to the maximum height or stage of a tide, river, or other watercourse, especially as a result of seasonal flooding or tidal cycles.
   • A peak or culminating point: Figuratively, "high-water" can denote a point of greatest achievement, success, or intensity in a process or situation.

2. Adjective:

   • Relating to or marking a high-water mark: Describes something that indicates the highest point reached, literally or metaphorically.
   • Of clothing, cut short above the ankle: In informal American English, "high-water" describes trousers or pants that are too short, exposing the ankles, often due to shrinkage or fashion.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The river reached its high-water during the spring thaw, flooding the adjacent fields. (The highest level of the river.)
  • The artist's career hit a high-water with the sale of that masterpiece. (A peak of success.)

• Adjective:

  • The high-water mark on the wall showed where the flood had reached. (The indicator of the highest water level.)
  • He wore high-water pants that were clearly too short for him. (Trousers cut above the ankle.)

Advanced Usage

• "high-water mark" (compound noun): a physical or figurative indicator of the highest point reached.

  • The high-water mark of the Roman Empire was under Emperor Trajan. (The peak of its power.)

• "high-water line": the line left on a shore or bank by the highest tide or flood.

  • Debris was scattered along the high-water line after the storm. (The boundary of the highest water.)

Variants and Related Words

• High-water mark (n): a line or point indicating the highest level reached by water; also used figuratively.

  • The high-water mark on the bridge is visible after each flood. (The physical indicator.)

• High-water pants (n, informal): trousers that are too short, exposing the ankles.

  • His high-water pants made him look like he had outgrown them. (Short trousers.)

Synonyms

• Peak: the highest point or level.
• Culmination: the highest or climactic point of something.
• Flood stage: the level at which a body of water reaches its highest point during a flood (literal).

Related Idioms

• At high water: at the time of the highest tide.

  • Boats can only approach the dock at high water. (When the water is at its highest level.)

• High-water mark of something: the greatest point of success or achievement.

  • That victory was the high-water mark of the team's season. (The peak of their performance.)

Note: The adjective sense for clothing ("high-water pants") is informal and primarily used in American English, often with a humorous or critical tone. The term is not typically used as a standalone adjective for other contexts.