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 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
Last month, Congress used the CRA to remove protections against mining for roughly 225,000 acres at the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
—Scott Braden, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
From its headwaters high in the Oakland Hills throught the city's Fruitvale District to where the waters eventually empty into the Oakland Estuary and San Francisco Bay, Sausal Creek is a historic treasure.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore miles of scenic trails at Lake Bemidji State Park, fish in pristine waters, or wade through the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park (40 miles southwest).
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Midwest Living, 7 May 2026
Already primed for catastrophe, townspeople’s discovery that developers had quietly targeted Acton for multiple battery projects stoked fears of industrial blight, fire and contamination of residential water wells and the nearby headwaters of Southern California’s last free-flowing river.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
That’s the headwaters of the swamp.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Now, Hall and Hall is marketing the 1,500-acre Spring Creek Ranch, a marquee holding at the headwaters of the renowned Fall River.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The headwaters of the Colorado River are among the nation's driest places.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
Last month, Congress used the CRA to remove protections against mining for roughly 225,000 acres at the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
—Scott Braden, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
From its headwaters high in the Oakland Hills throught the city's Fruitvale District to where the waters eventually empty into the Oakland Estuary and San Francisco Bay, Sausal Creek is a historic treasure.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore miles of scenic trails at Lake Bemidji State Park, fish in pristine waters, or wade through the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park (40 miles southwest).
—Katy Spratte Joyce, Midwest Living, 7 May 2026
Already primed for catastrophe, townspeople’s discovery that developers had quietly targeted Acton for multiple battery projects stoked fears of industrial blight, fire and contamination of residential water wells and the nearby headwaters of Southern California’s last free-flowing river.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
That’s the headwaters of the swamp.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Now, Hall and Hall is marketing the 1,500-acre Spring Creek Ranch, a marquee holding at the headwaters of the renowned Fall River.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The headwaters of the Colorado River are among the nation's driest places.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwaters
Noun
-
The Blue River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which is a main source of drinking water for the region.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
-
In Oregon, the three reservoirs where fishing limits were lifted all store water from the Powder River, a tributary of the Snake River, which flows through the northeast part of the state.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Hours into free agency opening March 9, Singleton remained unsigned — and had a skeleton deal lined up with another NFL team in free agency if negotiations with the Broncos fell through, according to a source familiar with the process.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Residents are also encouraged to keep pets confined to their property and remove outdoor food sources that may attract wildlife.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwaters. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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