rivers

noun

Definition of riversnext
plural of river
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rivers Check their website before consuming fish caught from the rivers. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026 But icy rivers are, of course, cold — and subjecting actors or even stunt doubles to such conditions seemed too dangerous. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 2 July 2026 Titan comes with a thick atmosphere and is a distinctive world of clouds, rain, rivers, lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons like methane and ethane. — Leonard David, Space.com, 3 July 2026 Any area can be vulnerable to flash floods, which can occur within minutes to hours of heavy rainfall, swallowing roads and creating dangerous currents in rivers and creeks. — Samantha Cookinham, NBC news, 27 June 2026 Crossing into Northern California, the train then descends from the mountains into forests, with rivers running alongside the tracks. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 Since Dylan’s death in 2011, hundreds more children in the UK have drowned seeking relief from scorching temperatures in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and quarries. — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivers
  1. canals
  2. floods
  3. waterways
  4. rivulets
  5. watercourses
Noun
  • But the gold seekers, the ‘49ers, immediately set to digging ditches and canals to divert water, and so the new state soon allowed that practice, too.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The city’s architecture, centuries of art, intricate decorative details, winding canals and network of historic bridges (Pontes) continually influence his creative vision.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of canals
Noun
  • In the past, it's been falsely linked with everything from hurricanes to floods, wildfires and alien abductions.
    — Emma Woollacott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Deadly floods are common in parts of Africa, which is among the regions most vulnerable to extreme weather events despite being responsible for a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
Definition of floods
Noun
  • Over 70 people died by drowning as people took to rivers and other waterways for relief, said France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The department will also deploy counterterrorism resources, explosive detection K-9s, bomb squad personnel and heavy weapons teams, along with plain clothes officers and a harbor unit for the waterways.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of waterways
Noun
  • His uniform and scalp were lined with glistening rivulets of oil, water, soot and sweat.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
  • In this piercing account of the American Dream in tatters, the magnitude of that dimension feels appropriate, echoing the currents of betrayal, fear and death that course through the film like rivulets of blood.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Definition of rivulets
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
Definition of watercourses

Browse Nearby Words

riverfronts
rivers
riverside
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Cite this Entry

“Rivers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivers. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rivers

Nglish: Translation of rivers for Spanish Speakers

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