adj
Uncommon
tidal
TEYE-dl
Tidal (adj) means relating to, caused by, or affected by the tides. Example: “The harbour is only accessible at high tide because of the tidal currents.”
adj
1
Relating to, caused by, or affected by the tides.
"The harbour is only accessible at high tide because of the tidal currents."
"Engineers are exploring tidal energy as a renewable power source."
"Walkers should check the tidal times before crossing the sandy causeway."
"Since then, the length of an Earth day has slowed to its present 24 hours due to the fact that the moon's gravitational pull "steals" some of energy Earth uses to spin, in addition to causing tidal friction, according to the Institute."
— Julia Jacobo, July 22 will be the second-shortest day of the year, scientists say (2025)
How to use tidal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving to do with the rise and fall of the sea.
Common pairings
tidal wave
tidal energy
tidal river
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The harbour is only accessible at high tide because of the _____ currents.
Etymology
From "tide" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-al."
Synonyms
View more →
tide-driven
tide-related
Rhymes for tidal
See all rhymes for tidal →Frequently asked questions
What does “tidal” mean?
The word “tidal” means relating to, caused by, or affected by the tides. In plain terms, having to do with the rise and fall of the sea.
How do you pronounce “tidal”?
“Tidal” is pronounced TEYE-dl (/ˈtaɪ.d(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “tidal” in a sentence?
Here is “tidal” used in a sentence: “The harbour is only accessible at high tide because of the tidal currents.”
What part of speech is “tidal”?
“Tidal” is an adjective.
Is “tidal” a common word?
“Tidal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between tidal and coastal?
Tidal specifically describes something relating to, caused by, or affected by the tides, such as a tidal river or tidal wave, while coastal simply means located near or relating to the coast in general. A coastal area is not necessarily affected by tides, whereas something tidal is defined by that tidal movement.
What does it mean when a river is described as tidal?
A tidal river is one whose water level and flow are affected by the rise and fall of the tides, often for a considerable distance inland from the sea. This distinguishes it from a purely freshwater river unaffected by tidal movement.
What is a tidal wave and how is it different from a tsunami?
A tidal wave, in the strict sense, refers to a wave caused by tidal action, since tidal describes anything relating to or caused by the tides. In everyday usage, however, people often use tidal wave loosely to mean a tsunami, even though a tsunami is actually caused by seismic activity, not tides.
