often attributive
1
a
: a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume
b
2
a
: something resembling a river
a river of lava
b
rivers plural
: large or overwhelming quantities
drank rivers of coffee
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
One of the largest bears in the river.
—
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
During an average harvest season, barges on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers haul hundreds of thousands of tons of soybeans per week out of the region and down to the Gulf.
—Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
The electronic safe houses were found in places including Armonk, New York; Greenwich, Connecticut; Queens, New York; and across the river in New Jersey – essentially forming a circle around New York City’s cellular network infrastructure, officials briefed on the investigation said.
—John Miller, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Africans were now being brought in to replace disappearing Taino, to pan rivers, dig mines, herd cows, and cut cane.
—Greg Grandin
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for river
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Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
During an average harvest season, barges on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers haul hundreds of thousands of tons of soybeans per week out of the region and down to the Gulf.
—Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
The electronic safe houses were found in places including Armonk, New York; Greenwich, Connecticut; Queens, New York; and across the river in New Jersey – essentially forming a circle around New York City’s cellular network infrastructure, officials briefed on the investigation said.
—John Miller, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Africans were now being brought in to replace disappearing Taino, to pan rivers, dig mines, herd cows, and cut cane.
—Greg Grandin
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for river
Cite this Entry
“River.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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"
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