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
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
The flood decimated the dozen-plus youth summer camps situated along the Guadalupe River headwaters and washed away entire families who had gathered to celebrate during the Independence Day weekend.
—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
The mine would restrict access to its tribal members, on top of creating heightened risks of mine runoff entering into the headwaters and decreasing dwindling fish populations, according to the lawsuit.
—Kevin Fixler
september 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2025
It could be said that more people have stood atop the headwaters of the Flint River than that of any other one on earth.
—David Hanson, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
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
The flood decimated the dozen-plus youth summer camps situated along the Guadalupe River headwaters and washed away entire families who had gathered to celebrate during the Independence Day weekend.
—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
The mine would restrict access to its tribal members, on top of creating heightened risks of mine runoff entering into the headwaters and decreasing dwindling fish populations, according to the lawsuit.
—Kevin Fixler
september 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2025
It could be said that more people have stood atop the headwaters of the Flint River than that of any other one on earth.
—David Hanson, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwaters
Noun
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History is everywhere in Okinawa, which from 1429 to 1879 was the Ryukyu Kingdom, a tributary state under China’s Ming and Qing dynasties.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
16 Jan. 2026
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The falls are also named for this blue-green water, which eventually flows into the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River through side canyons and tributaries.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Venezuela was hardly an impartial source; nor was OPEC, of which Caracas was a founding member and to which the new numbers were officially reported.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Later, sources told CNN the Justice Department stopped investigating the agent and federal authorities refused to share information with local investigators.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwaters. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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