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
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Recent Examples of headwater
At 16, the Hoopa Valley tribal member was about to kayak more than 300 miles down the Klamath River from its headwaters in southern Oregon.
—
The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
That’s true of everyone from headwaters to delta, farm to city.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Tie money to measurable results and sound governance, and benefits can travel from headwater villages to port cities linked by trade.
—William Jones, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Biologist Fabiola ‘Fabby’ Baeza-Tarin and an unexpected team work together to protect the sparrows, their shrinking habitat and the headwaters of the Everglades.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwater
The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
That’s true of everyone from headwaters to delta, farm to city.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Tie money to measurable results and sound governance, and benefits can travel from headwater villages to port cities linked by trade.
—William Jones, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Biologist Fabiola ‘Fabby’ Baeza-Tarin and an unexpected team work together to protect the sparrows, their shrinking habitat and the headwaters of the Everglades.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwater
Noun
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The Winneshiek County dairy with about 330 head of dairy cattle has been cited for two previous fish kill incidents, where manure leaked from the operation into a tributary of Dry Run Creek.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
10 Feb. 2026
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Many Maryland watermen have been stuck on land for weeks because parts of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries remain frozen over, leaving some oystermen out of work during peak season.—
Caroline Foreback,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Counties would have five years to repay the loans, and would also have to pledge a source of revenue in the event FEMA didn't reimburse the funding.—
ALEX ROZIER Mississippi Today,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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That approach lowers costs at the source, keeps families in the district, and restores real ownership instead of treating homeownership like a recurring tax base for government.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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