What does hydroplaned mean?
Hydroplaned is the past tense and past participle of hydroplane. It describes a boat or aircraft travelling across water on a thin cushion of air or water, and it can also describe a road vehicle sliding uncontrollably when tyres lose contact with a flooded surface because of a layer of water. The word is especially associated with high-speed travel: a speedboat may hydroplane across a lake, while a car can hydroplane on a wet road. In aviation, a suitable aircraft may hydroplane when taking off from or landing on water. The term is descriptive and technical, appearing in transport, weather, and road-safety reporting as well as in general descriptions of dangerous driving.
To move along the surface of water on a thin layer of air or water; to take off from or land on water in a suitable aircraft.
"The aircraft hydroplaned briefly before touching down on the river."
This sense is especially used for seaplanes and floatplanes, and for fast motorboats.
To slide uncontrollably on a wet road or other surface because a film of water separates the vehicle from the ground.
"The driver lost control and hydroplaned on the rain-soaked motorway."
Common in road-safety and accident reporting; the precise event is a loss of tyre traction caused by water.
A speedboat can rise above the water on a cushion of air, turning the surface into a runway.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hydroplaned come from?
The word is formed from the combining form hydro-, relating to water, and plane, meaning to move or glide above a surface. Its modern sense developed with the vocabulary of boats, aircraft, and vehicles moving over or on water. The related noun hydroplane can refer to a boat or aircraft designed to move across water, and the present participle is hydroplaning.
Related word forms
How hydroplaned is actually used
The verb is chiefly used for vehicles travelling over water and for vehicles sliding on a film of water. In the second sense, it is especially common in road-safety and accident reporting.
Easily confused with hydroplaned
Hydroplaning describes travelling on or above water, whereas an aeroplane is simply an aircraft.
Hydroplaning specifically involves a layer of water separating a vehicle from the surface, while skidding can refer to any loss of traction.