distributary
noun
dis·trib·u·tary
di-ˈstri-byə-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
plural distributaries
: a river branch flowing away from the main stream
Examples of distributary in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To the left another plume is coming from the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi.
—
Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2013
By the 1950s, scientists noticed the consequences: more water was going down the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi.
—Boyce Upholt, Time, 9 May 2019
Delhi gets its water from the Yamuna river, while Kolkata uses water from the Hooghly river, a distributary of the Ganga.
—Sanjana Venkatesan, Quartz India, 2 July 2019
In 1831, a pathway was dredged between a distributary of the Mississippi and the Red, leading to the formation of the present Atchafalaya river channel.
—Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com, 12 Dec. 2017
Saline water has long been invading the delta, but because of the drought there is not enough fresh water in the river and its distributaries to dilute the seawater.
—Jane Perlez, New York Times, 28 May 2016
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Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2013
By the 1950s, scientists noticed the consequences: more water was going down the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi.
—Boyce Upholt, Time, 9 May 2019
Delhi gets its water from the Yamuna river, while Kolkata uses water from the Hooghly river, a distributary of the Ganga.
—Sanjana Venkatesan, Quartz India, 2 July 2019
In 1831, a pathway was dredged between a distributary of the Mississippi and the Red, leading to the formation of the present Atchafalaya river channel.
—Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com, 12 Dec. 2017
Saline water has long been invading the delta, but because of the drought there is not enough fresh water in the river and its distributaries to dilute the seawater.
—Jane Perlez, New York Times, 28 May 2016
Cite this Entry
“Distributary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distributary. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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distributary
noun
dis·trib·u·tary
dis-ˈtrib-yə-ˌter-ē
plural distributaries
: a river branch flowing away from the main stream
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