wadi

noun

wa·​di ˈwä-dē How to pronounce wadi (audio)
Synonyms of wadinext
1
: the bed or valley of a stream in regions of southwestern Asia and northern Africa that is usually dry except during the rainy season and that often forms an oasis : gully, wash
2
: a shallow usually sharply defined depression in a desert region

Examples of wadi 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.
New geophysical surveys and coring of the wadi would shed more light on the hydrological aspects of the area, while other surveys might reveal where the eastward tunnels of the pyramid lead. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Aug. 2024 The building was built in a wadi. — CBS News, 14 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Arabic wādi

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wadi was in 1828

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Wadi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wadi. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

wadi

noun
wa·​di ˈwäd-ē How to pronounce wadi (audio)
: the bed or valley of a stream in regions of southwestern Asia and northern Africa that is usually dry except during the rainy season

More from Merriam-Webster on wadi

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wadi

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wadi

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