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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Recent Examples of headwater
The headwaters originate near 151st Street and Antioch Road in Overland Park and flows east for 4 miles through Leawood, ending at the Blue River in Missouri.
—
Kansas City Star, 21 July 2025
Recovery efforts continue, with more than 1,000 local, state, and federal personnel – alongside thousands of volunteers from across the country – combing the area on foot from the river’s headwaters to Canyon Lake.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
The Cosumnes River flows from the Sierra Nevada mountains to California’s Central Valley with its headwaters located at an elevation of 7,600 feet.
—Sacbee.com, 12 July 2025
To quantify the cost of improving these environments, the researchers simulated potential transactions and ecological effects at the river’s headwaters in Colorado — the source of about a quarter of the artery’s natural annual flow into the Lake Powell reservoir.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwater
Kansas City Star, 21 July 2025
Recovery efforts continue, with more than 1,000 local, state, and federal personnel – alongside thousands of volunteers from across the country – combing the area on foot from the river’s headwaters to Canyon Lake.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
The Cosumnes River flows from the Sierra Nevada mountains to California’s Central Valley with its headwaters located at an elevation of 7,600 feet.
—Sacbee.com, 12 July 2025
To quantify the cost of improving these environments, the researchers simulated potential transactions and ecological effects at the river’s headwaters in Colorado — the source of about a quarter of the artery’s natural annual flow into the Lake Powell reservoir.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwater
Noun
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The plan was to explore the Palouse River, a tributary of the Snake, by boat, then hop on a bus to hike alongside Palouse Falls.—
Becky Cooper,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Aug. 2025
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The region’s gently rolling hills and narrow river valleys quickly direct water into nearby streams and rivers, while saturated soils and the convergence of multiple tributaries led to a rapid rise in water levels.—
Brandi D. Addison,
jsonline.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With the sharp decline in sea stars, the sea urchins that usually serve as a food source rapidly expanded in population.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The official story told by official sources, the story we’ve been trained to trust, is often a distortion, or a downright fabrication.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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