as in tributary
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 headwaters
The report’s map showed the browns and yellows of persisting and developing drought across the entire Upper Colorado River Basin except in the Green River headwaters of Wyoming.
—
Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 20 Mar. 2026
The area includes headwaters for the South Platte River, a source of drinking and agricultural irrigation water.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
The northernmost headwaters of the Florida Everglades, Shingle Creek flows from the city into nearby Lake Tohopekaliga, eventually reaching the Everglades.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
In recent years, high-elevation residents have been detected near Donner Lake and the headwaters of the American River's north fork.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
That snowpack forms the headwaters of rivers including the Colorado, the Rio Grande, and the Arkansas.
—Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Previous spills in Flint River The headwaters of the Flint River, which flows south all the way to Florida, begin from seepage around the area of the Atlanta airport, meaning any contaminants from that area can reach the river more easily.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 20 Mar. 2026
The area includes headwaters for the South Platte River, a source of drinking and agricultural irrigation water.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
The northernmost headwaters of the Florida Everglades, Shingle Creek flows from the city into nearby Lake Tohopekaliga, eventually reaching the Everglades.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
In recent years, high-elevation residents have been detected near Donner Lake and the headwaters of the American River's north fork.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
That snowpack forms the headwaters of rivers including the Colorado, the Rio Grande, and the Arkansas.
—Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Previous spills in Flint River The headwaters of the Flint River, which flows south all the way to Florida, begin from seepage around the area of the Atlanta airport, meaning any contaminants from that area can reach the river more easily.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwaters
Noun
-
And in Colorado, all 13 of the state’s Gold Medal trout streams are fed by tributaries flowing from roadless areas.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The water would be dumped into the Niespodziany Ditch, a tributary of the Kankakee.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Polls suggest that most people want owners to pay for their own stadiums, but sports teams are desired and beloved, a source not only of entertainment but also of civic pride.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Online personalities a source of division Though widely regarded at the conference as separate from Republicans, the conservative movement is predominantly united, Plano resident Bruce Dunn said.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwaters. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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