headwater

noun

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

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
Recent Examples on the Web
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Now, Hall and Hall is marketing the 1,500-acre Spring Creek Ranch, a marquee holding at the headwaters of the renowned Fall River. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026 North Park — about 100 miles (161 kilometers) from the South Park valley that inspired the cartoon TV show — is a headwaters of the eastward-flowing Platte River system. ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 This includes a 3,118-foot peak, 16 headwater streams and stunning views of the French Broad River Valley, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy reports. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026 The stream flows north 17 miles from its headwaters just south of Ray Lake Forest Preserve, near Wauconda, through Long Lake and then into Fox Lake. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headwater. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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
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