river

noun

riv·​er ˈri-vər 

often attributive

1

a

: a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume

b

: watercourse

2

a

: something resembling a river

a river of lava

b

rivers plural : large or overwhelming quantities

drank rivers of coffee

see also up the river

Examples of river in a Sentence

The raft is too small to use on this part of the river.

Rivers of mud flowed down the hillside.

Recent Examples on the Web

The ability to reach the river without navigating Sutterville Road and the I-5 interchange is a significant safety and access improvement. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 16 Dec. 2025

Over ensuing years, satellite imagery, water testing and ground observations revealed contaminated rivers over hundreds of miles in remote parts of Alaska. —Barbara Moran, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025

There are dozens of Chinook populations across hundreds of rivers from California to Alaska, each facing unique challenges, such as impassable dams, overfishing and urban development. —Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025

Historians have presented a number of hypotheses to explain the reasons for the culture’s demise, pointing to floods, shifting rivers, and invasions. —Jay Kakade december 15, New Atlas, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rivere, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *riparia, from Latin, feminine of riparius riparian, from ripa bank, shore; perhaps akin to Greek ereipein to tear down

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing river

• atmospheric river
• down the river
• mouth of the river
• river blindness
• river dolphin
• river duck
• river horse
• river mouth
• river otter
• river's mouth
• sell down the river

Rhymes for river

• giver
• liver
• livre
• quiver
• shiver
• sliver
• caregiver
• deliver
• downriver
• lawgiver
• upriver

Kids Definition

river

noun

riv·​er ˈriv-ər 

1

: a natural stream of water larger than a brook or creek

2

: a large stream or flow

the jet stream is a river of air

Etymology

Middle English rivere "river," from early French rivere (same meaning), derived from Latin riparius "related to or located on the bank of a river," from ripa "shore"