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
Much of the water near the headwaters, however, is diverted under the Continental Divide to Front Range communities.
—
Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
The storm hit at the headwaters of the Guadalupe River, over streams that converge in the river valley.
—Jeffrey Basara, The Conversation, 24 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for headwater
Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
The storm hit at the headwaters of the Guadalupe River, over streams that converge in the river valley.
—Jeffrey Basara, The Conversation, 24 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for headwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwater
Noun
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Boats are still the only way to access remote parts of the river and its tributaries.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
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For example, the core curriculum, itself, includes at least investment, insurance, tax, estate, and retirement planning, with loads of tributaries.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Tesla is registered to 20-year-old David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, according to a senior LAPD source.—
Alex Stone,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
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During more than two hours of testimony, journalist Michael Shellenberger testified that sources had informed him that intelligence communities are in possession of numerous high-resolution photos and videos of the craft unlike any of the grainy imagery that has so far been declassified.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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