Measurements of the ultrasonic absorption of water have been made up to pressures of 2000 kg/cm2. The data show that both the shear and compressional losses decrease as the pressure is raised. Comparison of these results with the values predicted by Hall's theory of sound absorption in water shows that the theory must be modified to be in agreement with the experimental data. The modification consists of assuming that the open or ice type of packing is associated with the higher free‐energy state. If this modification is made, the observed data is in excellent agreement with theory. This result leads to the conclusion that even at 0°C less than 30 percent of the molecules in water are arranged in the ice type of packing. The results also indicate that the free‐energy difference between the two states of packing in water is temperature dependent.