reversing falls: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowGeographical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “reversing falls” mean?
A natural phenomenon where the direction of a waterfall or rapid changes with the tide, typically occurring in estuaries where tidal forces overcome river flow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A natural phenomenon where the direction of a waterfall or rapid changes with the tide, typically occurring in estuaries where tidal forces overcome river flow.
A specific place name for locations exhibiting this phenomenon, most famously the Reversing Falls in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, where the Saint John River flows through a narrow gorge and the Bay of Fundy's extreme tides cause the water to reverse direction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The phenomenon and the specific location are known by the same term in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily geographical/hydrological. May evoke tourism or local identity for those familiar with the Canadian landmark.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse. Slightly more likely to be encountered in Canadian contexts or specialized texts on physical geography.
Grammar
How to Use “reversing falls” in a Sentence
[The/These] reversing falls + [verb: are, occur, happen, reverse]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reversing falls” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The current is reversing at the falls just now.
- We watched the flow reverse itself completely.
American English
- The rapids will reverse direction in about an hour.
- The tide reverses the falls twice a day.
adverb
British English
- The water flowed reversing-ly during the high tide. (Highly unnatural/constructed)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use for this noun phrase)
adjective
British English
- The reversing-falls phenomenon draws many tourists.
- They took a reversing falls boat tour.
American English
- The reversing falls rapids are dangerous at peak tide.
- We stayed at a hotel with a reversing falls view.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in tourism marketing: 'The city's economy benefits from visitors to the Reversing Falls.'
Academic
Used in geography, earth sciences, and hydrology texts to describe a specific tidal phenomenon.
Everyday
Very rare. Almost exclusively used when discussing the specific tourist attraction in Saint John, Canada.
Technical
Used in oceanography and physical geography to describe a location where tidal flow reverses the direction of a river's descent.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reversing falls”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reversing falls”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reversing falls”
- Using 'reverse falls' (missing -ing).
- Confusing it with a 'tidal bore', which is a wave, not a reversal of a waterfall.
- Capitalizing incorrectly when not using it as the proper name for the Saint John site.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is capitalized when referring specifically to the landmark in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada (proper noun). As a common noun describing the phenomenon, it is not usually capitalized (e.g., 'a reversing falls').
At the specific Reversing Falls in Saint John, the direction reverses approximately every 6 hours and 13 minutes, following the tidal cycle of the Bay of Fundy, which has two high and two low tides each day.
No, it is extremely dangerous due to powerful currents, whirlpools, and rapidly changing water levels. It is a site for observation and supervised boat tours, not swimming.
While the Saint John site is the most famous, similar tidal phenomena where river flow is reversed or overcome by tides can occur in other estuaries with significant tidal ranges, such as the Severn Estuary in the UK, though they may not be called 'falls' specifically.
A natural phenomenon where the direction of a waterfall or rapid changes with the tide, typically occurring in estuaries where tidal forces overcome river flow.
Reversing falls is usually geographical/technical in register.
Reversing falls: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈvɜːsɪŋ fɔːlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈvɜːrsɪŋ fɑːlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a waterfall VIDEO playing in REVERSE when the tide comes in.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE'S PENDULUM; A BATTLE BETWEEN RIVER AND SEA
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cause of the 'reversing falls' phenomenon?