Tide Meaning
Tide Definition & Usage
The regular rise and fall of the sea level, typically caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and sun.
Examples
- "The tide is coming in, so we need to move the boat closer to the shore."
- "The fishermen waited for the tide to turn before heading out to sea."
- "During high tide, the water covers the beach almost entirely."
- "We walked along the shore as the tide receded, uncovering seashells and seaweed."
- "The tidal range here is quite large, with the difference between high and low tide being several meters."
A powerful force or trend, especially one that is cyclical or inevitable, like a changing tide.
Examples
- "The political tide has shifted in favor of progressive policies."
- "The tide of public opinion gradually turned against the government."
- "She felt that the tide was against her, but she pressed on with determination."
- "In business, you must learn to ride the tide of market changes."
- "He was carried along by the tide of popularity, never questioning why it was happening."
To move in a regular, flowing manner, like the motion of the sea.
Examples
- "The boat began to tide with the current, gently rocking back and forth."
- "The waves tide back and forth, creating a soothing sound on the shore."
- "The river tides with the ocean, creating a beautiful confluence of fresh and saltwater."
- "As we hiked along the coast, the water seemed to tide higher with each passing minute."
- "The storm caused the ocean to tide wildly, creating dangerous conditions for sailors."
Cultural Context
Tides have been observed and studied for thousands of years, particularly by sailors and fishermen. They are crucial for navigation and understanding marine ecosystems. In various cultures, tides also have symbolic meanings related to change, cycles, and the passage of time.
Riding the Tide of Change
Story
Riding the Tide of Change
In a small coastal town, there was an old fisherman named Ben who had seen it all. He was born by the sea, and the rhythm of the tides was as familiar to him as his own heartbeat. Every morning, he would wake before dawn and watch the tide roll in. The sea's rise and fall had a predictable quality, like the inevitable flow of time. He knew that if the tide was high, he could expect the fish to be closer to the shore, and if it was low, he'd have to wait for the water to come back. But the tides weren't just about fishing for Ben—they were part of the fabric of life itself. One day, a young man named Eric, who had recently moved to the town, approached Ben at the dock. 'I don't understand it,' Eric said, looking out at the ocean, 'It feels like the tide is against me. Every step I take, it feels like I’m fighting the current.' Ben chuckled softly. 'Ah, the tides of life can be tricky, son. Sometimes they shift when you least expect it. But don't fight them—ride them.' Eric frowned, unsure what Ben meant. Later that afternoon, they went out together on Ben's boat, the tide gently lifting them as they cast their nets into the sea. 'Look at the water,' Ben said. 'See how it tides with the moon, pulling in and out? That's like life. You can’t fight it. You have to go with it.' As they worked, Eric noticed how the boat moved with the waves, as if in harmony with the ocean’s rhythm. The more he watched, the more he understood—sometimes you couldn't control everything, but you could choose how you responded to the tides. As the tide turned and the boat returned to the harbor, Eric finally understood Ben’s lesson. Life, like the sea, had its high and low moments, but if you rode the tide instead of fighting it, you could find your way through any storm. The tide of his own life had shifted in that moment, and he felt the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. The tide had changed, and so had he.
Related Words
