Definition of headwaternext
as in tributary
usually headwaters plural the beginning part of a stream the first exploration of the Missouri River from its mouth to its headwaters was made by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in the early 1800s

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of headwater Already primed for catastrophe, townspeople’s discovery that developers had quietly targeted Acton for multiple battery projects stoked fears of industrial blight, fire and contamination of residential water wells and the nearby headwaters of Southern California’s last free-flowing river. Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026 That’s the headwaters of the swamp. ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Now, Hall and Hall is marketing the 1,500-acre Spring Creek Ranch, a marquee holding at the headwaters of the renowned Fall River. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026 The stream flows north 17 miles from its headwaters just south of Ray Lake Forest Preserve, near Wauconda, through Long Lake and then into Fox Lake. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwater
Noun
  • The Blue River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which is a main source of drinking water for the region.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
  • In Oregon, the three reservoirs where fishing limits were lifted all store water from the Powder River, a tributary of the Snake River, which flows through the northeast part of the state.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The United States plans to allow Iranian assets to be used to support rebuilding in Gulf countries impacted by future Iranian attacks, according to a source familiar with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s thinking.
    Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
  • The divorce has left Faith heartbroken and feeling caught in the middle, per the source.
    Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 6 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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