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
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
The Flint River — whose headwaters begin in East Point as a small stream — flows through pipes under the airport and emerges as a larger stream on the south side of the airfield.
—Nick Caloway, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Record-low snowpack in the Colorado River headwaters in central and northern Colorado suggests nature is unlikely to give negotiators breathing room.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Because of the mine’s location — at the headwaters of the BWCA — any potential pollution or acid mine drainage would likely flow into the wilderness area, Voyageurs National Park, and Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2026
The 22-mile lake on the Kenai Peninsula is the headwaters of the Kenai River, a waterway known for trout and salmon fishing.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
At 16, the Hoopa Valley tribal member was about to kayak more than 300 miles down the Klamath River from its headwaters in southern Oregon.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
That’s true of everyone from headwaters to delta, farm to city.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Biologist Fabiola ‘Fabby’ Baeza-Tarin and an unexpected team work together to protect the sparrows, their shrinking habitat and the headwaters of the Everglades.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
The Flint River — whose headwaters begin in East Point as a small stream — flows through pipes under the airport and emerges as a larger stream on the south side of the airfield.
—Nick Caloway, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Record-low snowpack in the Colorado River headwaters in central and northern Colorado suggests nature is unlikely to give negotiators breathing room.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Because of the mine’s location — at the headwaters of the BWCA — any potential pollution or acid mine drainage would likely flow into the wilderness area, Voyageurs National Park, and Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2026
The 22-mile lake on the Kenai Peninsula is the headwaters of the Kenai River, a waterway known for trout and salmon fishing.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
At 16, the Hoopa Valley tribal member was about to kayak more than 300 miles down the Klamath River from its headwaters in southern Oregon.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
That’s true of everyone from headwaters to delta, farm to city.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Biologist Fabiola ‘Fabby’ Baeza-Tarin and an unexpected team work together to protect the sparrows, their shrinking habitat and the headwaters of the Everglades.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwaters
Noun
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Despite being on the Patapsco River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, its name had nothing to do with Maryland or Baltimore.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
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Africa’s largest tank battle since World War II was fought over a bridge at the confluence of the Cuito and Cuanavale Rivers, the Okavango’s two major tributaries in the eastern Angolan Highlands.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Dallas Cowboys are planning to place the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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Wright cited statistics showing that natural gas -- long the nation's leading source of electricity -- provided 43% of electric power at peak generation during the storm, followed by coal at 24% and nuclear at 15%.—
MATTHEW DALY,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwaters. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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