tide

UK: /ˈtaɪd/ US: /taɪd/ ,(tīd)

Inflections of 'tide' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

tides

v 3rd person singular

tiding

v pres p

tided

v past

tided

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tide¹ /taɪd/   n., v., tid•ed, tid•ing. 
n. 

1. Oceanography the regularly occurring rise and fall of the waters of the ocean:
   [countable] a study of the periods of the tides.
   [uncountable] at high tide.
2. anything that rises and falls, increases and decreases, etc.:
   [countable] the tides of unemployment.
3. tendency or drift, as of events:
   [countable] the tide of history.
4. a large amount of something:
   [countable] a tide of immigrants.

v. 

5. tide over, [~ + object + over] to help in getting over or through a period of difficulty or distress:
   This money will tide you over until you get a new job.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tide¹ (tīd),  n., v., tid•ed, tid•ing. 

n. 

1. the periodic rise and fall of the waters of the ocean and its inlets, produced by the attraction of the moon and sun, and occurring about every 12 hours.
2. the inflow, outflow, or current of water at any given place resulting from the waves of tides.
3. See flood tide. 
4. a stream or current.
5. anything that alternately rises and falls, increases and decreases, etc.:
   the tide of the seasons.
6. current, tendency, or drift, as of events or ideas:
   the tide of international events.
7. any extreme or critical period or condition:
   The tide of her illness is at its height.
8. a season or period in the course of the year, day, etc. (now used chiefly in combination):
   wintertide; eventide.
9. Religion [Eccles.] a period of time that includes and follows an anniversary, festival, etc.
10. [Archaic.] a suitable time or occasion.
11. [Obs.] an extent of time.
12. turn the tide, to reverse the course of events, esp. from one extreme to another:
    The Battle of Saratoga turned the tide of the American Revolution.

v.i. 

13. to flow as the tide;
    flow to and fro.
14. to float or drift with the tide.

v.t. 

15. to carry, as the tide does.
16. tide over:
    • to assist in getting over a period of difficulty or distress.
    • to surmount (a difficulty, obstacle, etc.);
      survive.

• bef. 900; Middle English (noun, nominal); Old English tīd time, hour; cognate with Dutch tijd, German Zeit, Old Norse tīth; akin to time

tide′ful, adj. 
tide′less, adj. 
tide′less•ness, n. 
tide′like′, adj. 

tide² (tīd), v.i., tid•ed, tid•ing. [Archaic.]

1. to happen or befall.

• Middle English tiden, Old English tīdan. See betide bef. 1000

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tide / taɪd/ noun

1. the cyclic rise and fall of sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. There are usually two high tides and two low tides in each lunar day
   See also neap tide, spring tide
2. the current, ebb, or flow of water at a specified place resulting from these changes in level
3. See ebb3, flood3
4. a widespread tendency or movement
5. a critical point in time; turning point
6. (in combination) a season or time: Christmastide
7. a favourable opportunity

verb

1. to carry or be carried with or as if with the tide
2. (intransitive) to ebb and flow like the tide

Etymology: Old English tīd time; related to Old High German zīt, Old Norse tīthr time

ˈtideless adjective