riverbed

noun

riv·​er·​bed ˈri-vər-ˌbed How to pronounce riverbed (audio)
: the channel occupied by a river

Examples of riverbed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the floods in Texas, all that water piled up in the Guadalupe’s riverbed because the river had very low water levels prior to the event. Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 7 July 2025 To ford the region's many rivers, creeks and bayous, travelers needed riverbeds with hard surfaces. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 But in March 1995, skeletal remains were found in a riverbed in Santa Cruz County in Northern California. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025 Behind him were his wife, mother-in-law and other relatives, gingerly making their way into the riverbed. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for riverbed

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of riverbed was in 1781

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Riverbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riverbed. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

riverbed

noun
riv·​er·​bed -ˌbed How to pronounce riverbed (audio)
: the channel occupied or once occupied by a river

More from Merriam-Webster on riverbed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!