hy·dro·plane
ˈhī-drə-ˌplān 
1
: a powerboat designed for racing that skims the surface of the water
2
: seaplane
hydroplaned; hydroplaning; hydroplanes
: to skim on water
especially, of a vehicle
: to skid on a wet surface (such as pavement) because a film of water on the surface causes the tires to lose contact with it
Examples of hydroplane in a Sentence
Verb
The car started hydroplaning and skidded off the road.
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2023
Multiple boats in Alaska were named the Flying Saucer, including a hydroplane that raced at Lake Wasilla.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2022
Extreme hydroplane racing features the H1 Unlimited, Grand National, National Modified, and Grand Prix racing series.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 19 May 2021
However, as the hydroplane began to ascend, pilot Henry Arnold nosed it into the wind and caught a wing tip on the surface, causing the aircraft to crash.
—David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2021
The estate is beside a private lake and has been used by the owners to test hydroplanes during the past 30 years, according to the listing.
—Emma Austin, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2020
Driving through water can cause you to hydroplane, which is when water builds between tires and the roadway.
—Ethan May, Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2020
The snow was consistently deep enough to cause the 20-inch Goodyear Ultra Grip 245/45R-20 winter tires to hydroplane—snowboard?—atop the powder, yet the Taycan still felt planted.
—Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 6 Jan. 2020
Schedule: Friday — unlimited hydroplanes will practice from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2019
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
When hydroplaning, your vehicle may begin drifting across the road.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Feb. 2024
Officials said the crash occurred when one of the vehicles hydroplaned.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
Three were killed in car wrecks, including one person who hydroplaned Thursday in San Mateo County, Ferguson said, and two who died Monday while driving in Southern California, possibly referring to incidents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024
The second storm, which moved across Northern California on Wednesday, killed a 2-year-old boy when a tree landed on his family’s trailer near Occidental while a 19-year-old was killed after driving into standing water, hydroplaning and striking into a tree in Fairfield.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2024
Using snow tires increases overall safety by reducing the likelihood of skidding, sliding, and hydroplaning.
—Annie Gabillet, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2023
Avoid using cruise control on wet roads; turn it off promptly if hydroplaning starts.
—Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 25 Aug. 2023
In Kent County, a 21-year-old mother and her 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters were killed when their car hydroplaned and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic during heavy rain, according to MLive.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2023
Noun
Usually a high-speed thoroughfare — where traffic seems to cruise around 80 mph — the few drivers who were out were crawling, taking the occasional hydroplane with care.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2023
Multiple boats in Alaska were named the Flying Saucer, including a hydroplane that raced at Lake Wasilla.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2022
Extreme hydroplane racing features the H1 Unlimited, Grand National, National Modified, and Grand Prix racing series.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 19 May 2021
However, as the hydroplane began to ascend, pilot Henry Arnold nosed it into the wind and caught a wing tip on the surface, causing the aircraft to crash.
—David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2021
The estate is beside a private lake and has been used by the owners to test hydroplanes during the past 30 years, according to the listing.
—Emma Austin, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2020
Driving through water can cause you to hydroplane, which is when water builds between tires and the roadway.
—Ethan May, Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2020
The snow was consistently deep enough to cause the 20-inch Goodyear Ultra Grip 245/45R-20 winter tires to hydroplane—snowboard?—atop the powder, yet the Taycan still felt planted.
—Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 6 Jan. 2020
Schedule: Friday — unlimited hydroplanes will practice from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2019
Verb
Avoid puddles — Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
When hydroplaning, your vehicle may begin drifting across the road.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Feb. 2024
Officials said the crash occurred when one of the vehicles hydroplaned.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
Three were killed in car wrecks, including one person who hydroplaned Thursday in San Mateo County, Ferguson said, and two who died Monday while driving in Southern California, possibly referring to incidents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024
The second storm, which moved across Northern California on Wednesday, killed a 2-year-old boy when a tree landed on his family’s trailer near Occidental while a 19-year-old was killed after driving into standing water, hydroplaning and striking into a tree in Fairfield.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2024
Using snow tires increases overall safety by reducing the likelihood of skidding, sliding, and hydroplaning.
—Annie Gabillet, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2023
Avoid using cruise control on wet roads; turn it off promptly if hydroplaning starts.
—Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 25 Aug. 2023
In Kent County, a 21-year-old mother and her 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters were killed when their car hydroplaned and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic during heavy rain, according to MLive.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hydroplane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hydroplane
Cite this Entry
“Hydroplane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydroplane. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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