Synonyms of river

river

noun

1

as in canal

a passageway for water

A fallen tree branch was floating down the river.

Related Words

• canal
• stream
• waterway
• rivulet
• watercourse
• aqueduct
• gutter
• channel
• flume
• course
• racecourse
• raceway
• conduit
• sluice
• spillway
• millrace
• millstream
• floodway
• torrent
• sluiceway
• tideway
• trough
• swash

2

as in stream

an overwhelming flow or rush of something

Jet streams can be thought of as giant rivers of air that circulate around the globe.

He was overwhelmed by the river of new information that the document dump provided.

Related Words

• stream
• flood
• tide
• influx
• torrent
• overflow
• inundation
• current
• bath
• Niagara
• outflow
• avalanche
• flood tide
• cataract
• inflow
• deluge
• alluvion
• spate
• waterfall
• outpouring
• discharge
• flush
• gush
• flux
• cascade
• cataclysm
• cloudburst
• surplus
• blizzard
• excess
• glut
• surfeit
• overabundance
• oversupply
• superabundance
• overage
• superfluity
• overkill
• overmuch

Dissimilar Words

• trickle
• drip
• drought
• dribble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of river

According to the Korean principle of baesanimsu, which recommends building a house with a mountain at the back and a river at the front, interior designer Hye-Jin Ris Kim’s home in Seoul’s hilly Hannam-dong neighborhood is perfectly situated. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026

Of rivers that resembled living creatures and of golden statues of the Virgin, sent for by Father Antonio Ruiz from far-off lands. — Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026

The river that gives us water to drink is the same one that might wash us away. — Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Schrader credits their return to the Fox River – and a surprising choice by a pair of falcons to nest outside Aurora City Hall in early April that enamored the town – to a long history of river cleanup efforts. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing river

• sell down the river