Synonyms of headwater

headwater

noun

ˈhed-ˌwȯ-tər 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tributary
• source
• headstream
• spring
• head
• fountain
• fountainhead
• wellspring
• hot spring
• geyser
• branch
• feeder
• headspring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of headwater

While the river’s headwaters are near Salem, most of the outfitters are located in Steelville. — Kelsey Yandura, Midwest Living, 17 June 2026

These burn areas create barriers around villages, headwaters and sensitive sites, protecting them from wildfires during peak drought. — ABC News, 7 June 2026

The Cassai Life Atlas discoveries build on a decade's worth of surveys led by the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project within the Okavango and Lungwevungu headwaters, which uncovered a combined total of over 70 species confirmed new to science, according to The Wilderness Project. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026

The headwaters of the Yadkin River were not located in the area of heaviest rainfall and the threat for flooding has ended there. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026