water cycle

noun

: hydrologic cycle
In the water cycle, water evaporates, condenses, falls as precipitation, and eventually evaporates again.Timothy Cooney et al.
As they have for thousands of years, the rhythms of wildlife migration and reproduction as well as human agriculture and grazing activities are inseparable from that of the yearly water cycle.Peter Warshall
… run by solar energy that helps cause winds, energizes plants, and powers the water cycle.David M. Armstrong et al.

Examples of water cycle 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.
The water cycle refers to the complex system by which water moves around the Earth. Laura Paddison, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024 Read: Playing God with the atmosphere Climate change has disrupted the water cycle, speeding up every phase in the ancient, endless process that circulates H2O among the oceans, atmosphere, and land. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 20 June 2024 By reducing the solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface, aerosols reduce evaporation and slow the water cycle that governs where, when, and how much rain falls. Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016 According to Regeneration International, regenerative agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity - resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle. Tom Hyland, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for water cycle 

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water cycle was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near water cycle

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

water cycle

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on water cycle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!