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
Below the surface, a huge groundwater resource flows into the nearby springs that feed the headwaters of the Verde River.
—
John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec. 2024
Northern areas of Colorado — including on the Yampa River and near the Colorado River’s headwaters north of Kremmling — have above-normal snowpack.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
These projects manage most of the major reservoirs on the western side of the Sierra Nevada range, from the headwaters of the San Joaquin River to Shasta on the Sacramento River in the state’s far north.
—Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Northern areas of Colorado — including on the Yampa River and near the Colorado River’s headwaters north of Kremmling — have above-normal snowpack.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwater
John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec. 2024
Northern areas of Colorado — including on the Yampa River and near the Colorado River’s headwaters north of Kremmling — have above-normal snowpack.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
These projects manage most of the major reservoirs on the western side of the Sierra Nevada range, from the headwaters of the San Joaquin River to Shasta on the Sacramento River in the state’s far north.
—Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Northern areas of Colorado — including on the Yampa River and near the Colorado River’s headwaters north of Kremmling — have above-normal snowpack.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwater
Noun
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The Sacramento River and Klamath River basin and tributaries will remain closed to protect their salmon populations.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2025
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Most of that decline happened in the river’s tributaries and lakes, where the animal’s range has decreased by 91 percent.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 May 2025
Noun
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The extraordinary source material is a profound inspiration to build a unique world that vibrates with life and death at the same time.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
16 May 2025
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During the speech, McLean mentioned uncertainty in federal funding sources while discussing affordability in Boise.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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