high-water mark
Highest point reached
The high-water mark is the highest level reached by a body of water, visible as a line of debris or discoloration on shores or structures.
Figuratively, it means a peak or zenith—the point of greatest achievement or intensity: That album was the high-water mark of her career.
The phrase often implies subsequent decline.
Utmost summit or spire
- apexUppermost point or culmination
- zenithPoint straight overhead
- peakUtmost height attained
- culminationHighest or final point
summit · acme · triumph · crowning moment · capstone · epitome · masterpiece · tour de force
Level of quality accepted
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
- reference pointStandard for comparison
- baselineStandard for comparison
- criterionStandard for judgment
touchstone · gauge · barometer · threshold · ceiling · upper limit · maximum · limit
Highest point or tuft
- peak flowMaximum exhalation speed measure
- flood stageCritical water level marker
- flood crestPeak water level during flooding
- recessionProlonged economic decline
Shore's flood boundary
- strandlineTide's deposit line
- shorelineLand-water boundary
- ebbGradual retreat seaward
- flowUnbroken forward movement
tidal range · spring tide · neap tide · littoral · flotsam · driftwood · seaweed · kelp
pinnacle
Utmost summit or spire
culmination · summit · acme · triumph · crowning moment · capstone · epitome · masterpiece · tour de force · breakthrough
standard
Level of quality accepted
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
- reference pointStandard for comparison
- baselineStandard for comparison
criterion · touchstone · gauge · barometer · threshold · ceiling · upper limit · maximum · limit · bar
crest
Highest point or tuft
- peak flowMaximum exhalation speed measure
- flood stageCritical water level marker
- flood crestPeak water level during flooding
tideline
Shore's flood boundary
- strandlineTide's deposit line
- shorelineLand-water boundary
- ebbGradual retreat seaward
flow · tidal range · spring tide · neap tide · littoral · flotsam · driftwood · seaweed · kelp · debris
- intertidal zonetide pool, tide pools, rock pool, rockpool, rockpools
- high waterflood tide, spring tide, king tide, tidal surge, storm surge
- maritime zonesterritorial sea, territorial waters, coastal waters, maritime border, international waters
high-water marklow-water mark
Lowest tidal reach
nadir · low point · lowest point · rock bottom · low tide line