cas·cade
(ˌ)kas-ˈkād 
1
: a steep usually small fall of water
especially
: one of a series
2
a
: something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding
blood clotting involves a biochemical cascade
b
: a fall of material (such as lace) that hangs in a zigzag line and that is used especially in clothing and draperies
3
: something falling or rushing forth in quantity
a cascade of sound
a cascade of events
Her hair was arranged in a cascade of curls.
cascaded; cascading
: to fall, pour, or rush in or as if in a cascade
The water cascaded over the rocks.
Her hair cascaded down around her shoulders.
Synonyms
Examples of cascade in a Sentence
Noun
Her hair was arranged in a cascade of curls.
That decision set off a cascade of events.
Verb
The water cascades over the rocks.
Her hair cascaded down around her shoulders.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
Top Ukrainian officials openly suggested that a cascade of Russian defeats might force Russian President Vladimir Putin from power.
—Dominic Tierney, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cascade 
Noun
Water cascades over the curving edge of the mosaic-tiled swimming pool into a vast, shallow pool on the lower level, over which lily pad-like overlapping circles of concrete steppingstones meander over the surface to a sunken lounge with a fire pit at its circular center.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
Top Ukrainian officials openly suggested that a cascade of Russian defeats might force Russian President Vladimir Putin from power.
—Dominic Tierney, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cascade
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cascade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cascade
Cite this Entry
“Cascade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cascade. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cascade
1 of 2 noun
cas·cade
kas-ˈkād
: a steep usually small waterfall
cascade
2 of 2 verb
cascaded; cascading
: to fall in or as if in a cascade
Medical Definition
cascade
noun
cas·cade
(ˌ)kas-ˈkād
: a molecular, biochemical, or physiological process occurring in a succession of stages each of which is closely related to or depends on the output of the previous stage
a cascade of enzymatic reactions
the cascade of events comprising the immune response
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share