noun
General Slang
undertow
UN-der-toh · noun · informal
A seaward pull of water beneath the surface near shore.
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Definitions
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An offshore under-current running back out to sea beneath incoming waves, which can drag people off their feet.
“The undertow at that beach is strong enough to sweep kids off their feet.”
by community
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undertow In A Sentence
The undertow at that beach is strong enough to sweep kids off their feet.
Origin & Usage
Coastal term for the water dragging back beneath breaking waves.
People Also Ask
What is undertow?
It is a seaward under-current beneath breaking waves that can drag a person off their feet near the shoreline.
Is undertow the same as a rip current?
Not exactly. Undertow pulls water back out along the bottom near shore, while a rip current is a concentrated channel of water flowing out to sea; people often confuse the two.
Is undertow dangerous?
It can be, especially for children and weaker swimmers, because it can knock you off balance in shallow water near the beach.
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