rip tide
Ocean's hidden danger
A rip tide—usually written as one word, riptide—is a strong, narrow current flowing away from shore.
Rip tides form when water pushed toward the beach by waves funnels back through a gap, creating a swift outward flow that can pull swimmers into deeper water.
The lifeguard warned us about the riptide near the pier.
Figuratively, a riptide suggests any powerful, pulling force: a riptide of emotions.
- undertowSubsurface seaward current
- pullForce toward oneself
- currentDirected flow of charge
- strong currentIntense water flow
- ocean currentContinuous seawater movement
sweep · sandbar · drag · ocean · ebb · water · water rescue · water safety · escape · panic · danger zone · red flag warning · swim · marine · fear · lifeguard · underwater hazards · beach
- tidesebb, slack water, ebb and flow, flow, Bay of Fundy
rip tidecalm waters
Undisturbed body of liquid
still water · swimming beach · safe harbor · slack water · lagoon
rip tideslack tide
Pause between tides
still water · dead calm · flat water · dead water · wave