Definition of river
1a : a natural stream of water of usually considerable volumeb : watercourse
2a : something resembling a river a river of lavab rivers plural : large or overwhelming quantities drank rivers of coffee
up the river
: to or in prison was sent up the river
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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
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That leaches into the water table and ends up in rivers and lakes, feeding toxic algal blooms.
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Once upon a time, the air was thick with smog and soot from industry lining the city’s rivers.
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According to Great Wolf Lodge's announcement, the development will include a 93,000-square foot indoor water park featuring waterslides, a giant tipping bucket, wave pool, lazy river and zero-depth entry water play area.
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The most common location for the drownings are rivers, streams and lakes.
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Some trees, including red maple and river birch, are suitable.
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King County sheriff’s deputies recovered the body of a 16-year-old Issaquah boy late Thursday from the Snoqualmie River near North Bend, days after the boy went missing while swimming in the river.
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Recently, Mr. Thompson led me along the vast new route, wending a giant figure-eight around two courtyards, with views of the river from a ribbon of windows lining the perimeter of the lofty industrial space.
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In addition, Border Patrol agents on the ground said increasingly urbanized canyons and tributary areas in Tijuana — located west of the river along the international border — have become a major source of sewage and contaminated runoff.
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
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Geology Terms
anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale
RIVER Defined for English Language Learners
river
playDefinition of river for English Language Learners
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: a large natural flow of water that crosses an area of land and goes into an ocean, a lake, etc.
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: a large flow of something
RIVER Defined for Kids
river
playDefinition of river for Students
1 : a natural stream of water larger than a brook or creek
2 : a large stream or flow a river of mud
Learn More about river
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See words that rhyme with river Spanish Central: Translation of river Nglish: Translation of river for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of river for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about river
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