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

Staff Pick: Baltimore bridge collapse survivor describes plunge into river Julio Cervantes SuarezRosem Morton for NBC News Julio Cervantes Suarez was sitting in his truck on a break from filling potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when the unthinkable happened. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 11 July 2024

The project avoids using heavy machinery in the river or on the bank, and doesn't require constructing new roads or bridges. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 11 July 2024

Over the years, the railroad filled in acreage to the east, creating room for rail yards, river and lake boat transfer stations, train sheds and, finally, piggyback trucking facilities. —Andrew Johnston, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2024

The kid-run town moved around — Exchange City was located at a converted warehouse near the Liberty Memorial, a cave north of the river and the Penn Valley community college campus during its over 30 year history. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2024

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
• up the river

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"