river

noun

riv·​er ˈri-vər 

often attributive

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

Phrases

up the river

: to or in prison

was sent up the river

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 on the Web

Officials said the crab was a large male that could have been introduced illegally into the river by a person or by ballast water from a ship. —Stephen Smith, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025

When spring arrives, the hotel and all its artworks melt back into the river, creating an eternal cycle. —Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

The effect is chilling and exhilarating, like wading into the river of time to stand beside them. —Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

Small-time wine growers went out en masse, raiding cellars, smashing bottles, and rolling barrels into the river. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing river

• atmospheric river
• down the river
• mouth of the river
• river blindness
• river dolphin
• river duck
• river horse
• river mouth
• river otter
• river's mouth
• sell down the river

Rhymes for river

• giver
• liver
• livre
• quiver
• shiver
• sliver
• caregiver
• deliver
• downriver
• lawgiver
• upriver

Kids Definition

river

noun

riv·​er ˈriv-ər 

1

: a natural stream of water larger than a brook or creek

2

: a large stream or flow

the jet stream is a river of air

Etymology

Middle English rivere "river," from early French rivere (same meaning), derived from Latin riparius "related to or located on the bank of a river," from ripa "shore"