Definition of headwaternext
as in tributary
usually headwaters plural 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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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 headwater Clear Creek County Commissioner George Marlin makes a compelling case that alone, his small county of about 9,000 residents could never fund the mitigation needed to protect the headwaters of Clear Creek. — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026 The agreement was made at a time when the region had a smaller population and benefited from wetter years, with much more snow to feed the river’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 Following an exceedingly warm year that has left the Colorado River’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains largely snowless, Lake Mead is nearing a record-low level. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Several sensitive native fish have now settled in, including the speckled dace and the headwater chub. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for headwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwater
Noun
  • As a whole, dispersed across the World Wide Web, its river and tributaries, the words and images and videos form a new corpus of word and art.
    — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Viewed from the waters of Turner Creek, a serpentine tributary east of Savannah, the dock stretches so far across the marsh that even those with 20-20 vision must squint to see where planking meets terra firma.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Mobile is obtaining water from an unapproved non-potable water source/hydrant.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • An October 7 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), drawing on more than 90 Chinese-language sources, traces that process from battlefield observation to publicly visible changes in Chinese preparations.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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