ebb tide

Ebb tideRowboat is beached as the tide ebbs, near Dunedin, Otago Peninsula, South Island, N.Z.

ebb tide, seaward flow in estuaries or tidal rivers during a tidal phase of lowering water level. The reverse flow, occurring during rising tides, is called the flood tide. See tide.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title: ebb tide
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 04 January 2011
Access Date: February 22, 2025