1
as in streams
a passageway for water
A fallen tree branch was floating down the river.
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2
as in floods
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.
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Recent Examples of rivers
Native to eastern North America, wild mountain laurel plants grow en masse along woodland margins, rivers and streambanks, and sloping hillsides.
—
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
Beyond being expensive to maintain, the dams are destructive to rivers, blocking fish habitat while warming the water, depleting oxygen levels and trapping sediment upstream.
—CBS News, 12 June 2026
The fireworks will go off from six barges on the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, as well as some rooftops.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Scott Pelath, executive director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission, was headed to the rivers to check for debris in the channel that could impede the flow of water and cause flooding.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Chicago has an astounding network of rec trails and green space, many found along rivers and lakes.
—Diane Penningroth, Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Of the more than 40 million annual visitors to the state, about a quarter seek outdoor recreation, including fishing at the state’s extensive network of fishing holes—rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi, as well as more than 2,700 lakes—meaning a stop at Bass Pro is almost always in order.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
The North Carolina Estuarium is another highlight, with Pamlico River tours as well as 200 exhibits on estuaries and coastal rivers.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026
In those days the rivers were the roads of the North, and the weekly boats, powered by twin diesels, made the trip in three days.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
Beyond being expensive to maintain, the dams are destructive to rivers, blocking fish habitat while warming the water, depleting oxygen levels and trapping sediment upstream.
—CBS News, 12 June 2026
The fireworks will go off from six barges on the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, as well as some rooftops.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Scott Pelath, executive director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission, was headed to the rivers to check for debris in the channel that could impede the flow of water and cause flooding.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Chicago has an astounding network of rec trails and green space, many found along rivers and lakes.
—Diane Penningroth, Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Of the more than 40 million annual visitors to the state, about a quarter seek outdoor recreation, including fishing at the state’s extensive network of fishing holes—rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi, as well as more than 2,700 lakes—meaning a stop at Bass Pro is almost always in order.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
The North Carolina Estuarium is another highlight, with Pamlico River tours as well as 200 exhibits on estuaries and coastal rivers.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026
In those days the rivers were the roads of the North, and the weekly boats, powered by twin diesels, made the trip in three days.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivers
Noun
-
The challenge for cable news networks in offering streams of their content has been to do so without jeopardizing the revenue stream of subscription fees from cable and satellite operators.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As a skin care ingredient, hyaluronic acid floods withered, thirsty skin with moisture, thereby smoothing the appearance of fine lines.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
10 June 2026
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Tolls are paid to transit the Suez and Panama canals, the CEO said.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
11 June 2026
-
Northern snakeheads are freshwater fish and live in small and large streams, canals, rivers, ponds, reservoirs and lakes, according to the agency.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Noun
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His efforts have now pulled more than 45,000 pounds of garbage from area waterways and recycled more than 8,000 miles of fishing line.—
Kathleen Toner,
CNN Money,
7 Dec. 2025
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Other initiatives include public art partnerships, climate and water-resilience workshops, the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, and the Streams of Hope watershed program, which launched in 2022 and empowers middle-school students to adopt and study their local waterways.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The expanse of a cookie, its crumbly craters and molten rivulets, is a playground for the pastry chef.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Several rivulets flowed lazily through the debris.—
Daniel A. Gross,
New Yorker,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
At the same time, there are riparian natives — those that grow along watercourses — which may need regular attention in terms of water needs for many years after planting.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivers. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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