Examples of headwater in a Sentence
the first exploration of the Missouri River from its mouth to its headwaters was made by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in the early 1800s
Recent Examples on the Web
The Mulanje Mountains are the major watershed for southeastern Malawi, containing the headwaters of nine rivers that supply water for hundreds of thousands of Malawians.
—
Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Its headwaters are at the confluence of Knight Creek and Trout Creek.
—Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
Here are a few of our favorite waterfall spots to take your pooch:
Dawn Falls, Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, Larkspur
At the headwaters of Larkspur Creek, this 193-acre preserve encompasses a lovely canyon filled with history, stately trees and a spectacular waterfall.
—Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Ecosystem projects that improve bighorn sheep habitat also benefit high-country mule deer, and elk, and fragile subalpine vegetation at the headwaters of the West’s major rivers.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2024
The state has 45 miles of Lake Michigan’s shoreline and is home to the headwaters of the Maumee River, which flows into Lake Erie and is the largest river basin in the Great Lakes.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Feb. 2024
MacAvoy said that the Anacostia’s headwaters are in Maryland, where District officials have no control over pollution.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
By contrast, a drop of rain falling at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota travels only 1,500 feet to sea level at its mouth in Louisiana and has more than 2,000 leisurely miles to get there.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2024
Jay’s Idaho favorites Most remote place he’s visited: The headwaters of the Snake River, some 60 miles on horseback into the backcountry of Yellowstone and the Tetons.
—Bill Manny, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Its headwaters are at the confluence of Knight Creek and Trout Creek.
—Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
Here are a few of our favorite waterfall spots to take your pooch:
Dawn Falls, Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, Larkspur
At the headwaters of Larkspur Creek, this 193-acre preserve encompasses a lovely canyon filled with history, stately trees and a spectacular waterfall.
—Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Ecosystem projects that improve bighorn sheep habitat also benefit high-country mule deer, and elk, and fragile subalpine vegetation at the headwaters of the West’s major rivers.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2024
The state has 45 miles of Lake Michigan’s shoreline and is home to the headwaters of the Maumee River, which flows into Lake Erie and is the largest river basin in the Great Lakes.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Feb. 2024
MacAvoy said that the Anacostia’s headwaters are in Maryland, where District officials have no control over pollution.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
By contrast, a drop of rain falling at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota travels only 1,500 feet to sea level at its mouth in Louisiana and has more than 2,000 leisurely miles to get there.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2024
Jay’s Idaho favorites Most remote place he’s visited: The headwaters of the Snake River, some 60 miles on horseback into the backcountry of Yellowstone and the Tetons.
—Bill Manny, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headwater.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1612, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near headwater
Cite this Entry
“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headwater. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
headwater
noun
head·wa·ter
-ˌwȯt-ər 
-ˌwät-
: the beginning and upper part of a stream
—usually used in plural
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