water cycle
noun
: hydrologic cycle
In the water cycle, water evaporates, condenses, falls as precipitation, and eventually evaporates again.—
Timothy Cooney et al.
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
Peter Warshall… run by solar energy that helps cause winds, energizes plants, and powers the water cycle.—David M. Armstrong et al.
David M. Armstrong et al.Examples of water cycle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Climate change is throwing the water cycle into chaos across the U.S., with shifting patterns in mountainous parts of the country liable to cause rivers to run at extreme highs — and lows.
—Nick Duffy, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2024
Climate change registered to snow hydrologists as a future problem, but for the most part their job remained squarely hydrology: working out the ticktock of a highly variable yet presumably coherent water cycle.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2024
The water cycle controls every aspect of Earth’s climate system, which means that as the climate changes, so too does nearly every step of water’s movement on the planet.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2024
Research has shown that warming is intensifying the water cycle, and scientists say this will exacerbate the already volatile swings in California’s hydroclimate.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
The Florida Park Service bases its management of Paynes Prairie on Bartram’s words, using Travels as a reference for everything from the topography and water cycles to the wildlife and plants.
—Kiley Bense, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Next, wash as normal in a warm water cycle with detergent.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024
Climate change is throwing Earth’s water cycle into chaos across the country as the planet continues to warm.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
Atmospheric rivers are part of the Earth's ocean water cycle, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, and are tied closely to both water supply and flood risks.
—USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
Nick Duffy, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2024
Climate change registered to snow hydrologists as a future problem, but for the most part their job remained squarely hydrology: working out the ticktock of a highly variable yet presumably coherent water cycle.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2024
The water cycle controls every aspect of Earth’s climate system, which means that as the climate changes, so too does nearly every step of water’s movement on the planet.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2024
Research has shown that warming is intensifying the water cycle, and scientists say this will exacerbate the already volatile swings in California’s hydroclimate.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
The Florida Park Service bases its management of Paynes Prairie on Bartram’s words, using Travels as a reference for everything from the topography and water cycles to the wildlife and plants.
—Kiley Bense, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Next, wash as normal in a warm water cycle with detergent.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024
Climate change is throwing Earth’s water cycle into chaos across the country as the planet continues to warm.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
Atmospheric rivers are part of the Earth's ocean water cycle, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, and are tied closely to both water supply and flood risks.
—USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'water cycle.' 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 water cycle
Cite this Entry
“Water cycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20cycle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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