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 This includes a 3,118-foot peak, 16 headwater streams and stunning views of the French Broad River Valley, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy reports. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 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 The headwaters of the Colorado River are among the nation's driest places. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026 What was already a dismal snowpack in the river’s Rocky Mountain headwaters has begun melting early, with little prospect for replacement from major snowstorms. Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwater
Noun
  • The dirt-only diamond was loamy and soft and home plate was totally submerged in a muddy puddle, a tributary of which also snaked down the third-base line.
    Chang-rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
  • The simple gym room is equipped with an elliptical, a couple treadmills, and weight-lifting systems, all with views of a glistening tributary of the Cubango River that flows through the property.
    Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After coaching this season under an expiring contract, the four-time championship coach has agreed to a new two-year deal, a league source confirmed to the Bay Area News Group on Saturday.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
  • There was an equal and opposite reaction from far-right Americans and Europeans, some of whom had flocked to Budapest in recent years, treating it as an illiberal city on a hill, and a source of government largesse.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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