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 Synonyms for headwaters
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 -
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
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“Headwaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwaters. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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