river

noun, often attributive riv·er \ ˈri-vər \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of river

1 a : a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume

b : watercourse

2 a : something resembling a river

a river of lava

b rivers plural : large or overwhelming quantities

drank rivers of coffee

— up the river

: to or in prison

was sent up the river

See river defined for English-language learners

See river defined for kids

Examples of river in a Sentence

The raft is too small to use on this part of the river.
Rivers of mud flowed down the hillside.

Recent Examples of river from the Web

So too have luxury buildings north of the river, including Trump International Hotel & Tower, No.

— ryan ori, chicagotribune.com, "Will Tribune Tower redevelopment hit deadlines?," 17 Apr. 2018
The wetlands drain into a navigation channel along the east bank of the river.

— don behm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Restoration of one of the last wetlands in Milwaukee's harbor estuary will provide more public recreation and improved habitat," 17 Apr. 2018
There are two viewing decks where people can take photos and video of the falls from the vantage point of a county park on the south side of the river.

— steve stuebner, idahostatesman, "Experience the thundering power of Shoshone Falls — then visit nearby waterfalls, too | Idaho Statesman," 16 Apr. 2018
Separately, an adult female body recovered on Friday from another area of the river was identified as Soumya Thottapilly, 38.

— eric levenson, CNN, "Bodies of 3 family members who traveled in SUV found in California river," 16 Apr. 2018
The Coast Guard and Massachusetts Department of Energy initially discovered the leak Friday during a patrol of the river, according to a statement.

— laney ruckstuhl, BostonGlobe.com, "Oil leaking into Mystic River in Boston believed to be coming from Eversource pipe," 16 Apr. 2018
As a kid, Lopez was surrounded by murals east of the river.

— esmeralda bermudez, latimes.com, "An artist finds his subject in the hills of East L.A.," 14 Apr. 2018
The troops will provide Border Patrol with surveillance of the river from the ground and the air, but will not apprehend immigrants or interdict drug trafficking operations.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Abbott calls cross-border activity disturbing and dangerous," 12 Apr. 2018
The Regional Transit Authority said the Coast Guard's closure of the river forced a suspension of the Algier's Point-Canal Street ferry.

— manuel torres, NOLA.com, "Algiers ferry suspended as Mississippi River closes due to diesel spill," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'river.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of river

Middle English rivere, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *riparia, from Latin, feminine of riparius riparian, from ripa bank, shore; perhaps akin to Greek ereipein to tear down

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year