headwater

noun

head·​wa·​ter ˈhed-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce headwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
Synonyms of headwaternext
: the source of a stream
—usually plural

Synonyms of headwater

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Examples of headwater in a Sentence

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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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.
Others, like salmon, return upstream via Metro-North or the Long Island Rail Road to the suburban headwaters in which they were born, in order to spawn. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for headwater

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headwater was in 1612

Rhymes for headwater

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Browse Nearby Words

headwark
headwater
headway
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Cite this Entry

“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headwater. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

headwater

noun
head·​wa·​ter -ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce headwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: the beginning and upper part of a stream
—usually used in plural
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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