waterfall

noun

wa·​ter·​fall ˈwȯ-tər-ˌfȯl 

ˈwä-

1

a

: a perpendicular or very steep descent of the water of a stream

b

: an artificial waterfall (as in a hotel lobby or a nightclub)

2

: something resembling a waterfall

Synonyms of waterfall

• cascade

Examples of waterfall in a Sentence

I used to like to throw sticks in the stream and watch them go over the waterfall.

Recent Examples on the Web

In winter, the frozen waterfall becomes a destination for ice climbers willing to scale its icy face. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

Best Hikes Comet Falls For a good waterfall hike, Neville recommends the trail to Comet Falls. —Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026

With natural wonders like the iconic Saltos del Monday waterfall, and historic UNESCO sites like the Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná, the landlocked country between Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia is slowly making the radar of international tourists. —Brittany Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026

There are a lot of birds and a little waterfall. —Anne Kadet, Curbed, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for waterfall

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Kids Definition

waterfall

noun

wa·​ter·​fall ˈwȯt-ər-ˌfȯl 

ˈwät-

: a fall of water usually from a great height