Phrase guide

rip current

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A strong flow of surface water, away from the shore, that returns water from incoming waves.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1995, University of California at Berkeley (editor), The New Wellness Encyclopedia, page 271, A break in the wave pattern or discoloration (usually caused by sand) can help you spot rip currents. It you get caught in one, however, don′t struggle, Swim with it, but angle toward the shore or bank.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a strong surface current flowing outwards from a shore

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: riptide

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: current, stream

History

Etymology

Coined as a more accurate replacement for the earlier term "riptide", as the phenomenon is not related to the tides.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 離岸流 /离岸流 (lí'ànliú) — strong water flow
  • Chinese Mandarin: 退潮流 (tuìcháoliú) — strong water flow
  • Chinese Mandarin: 激流 (jīliú) — strong water flow
  • Dutch: mui — strong water flow
  • Dutch: muistroom — strong water flow
  • Finnish: paluuvirtaus — strong water flow
  • French: courant d'arrachement — strong water flow
  • German: Rippströmung — strong water flow
  • German: Brandungsrückstrom — strong water flow
  • Hawaiian: aumiki — strong water flow
  • Icelandic: hlið — strong water flow
  • Icelandic: útstreymisrenna — strong water flow
  • Italian: corrente di risacca — strong water flow
  • Italian: riflusso — strong water flow
  • Japanese: 離岸流 (riganryū) — strong water flow
  • Māori: kauere — strong water flow
  • Māori: toiremi — strong water flow
  • Polish: prąd odpływowy — strong water flow
  • Serbo-Croatian: isis — strong water flow
  • Serbo-Croatian: povratna struja — strong water flow
  • Spanish: corriente de resaca — strong water flow
  • Swedish: ripström — strong water flow